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DADU/ KARAK: At least eight people were killed in separate road accidents in Dadu and Karachi on Sunday. Four people were killed and 11 others critically injured when a passenger coach collided with a car on Indus Highway near Dadu on Sunday morning. The passenger coach was heading to Karachi from Larkana. The dead bodies and injured were shifted to Civil Hospital Dadu, while three seriously injured were rushed to Nawabshah hospital. Meanwhile, four people were killed and three others injured when four loaded containers collided on Indus Highway in Karak in the morning. Read More:  Seven girls, rickshaw driver, die as bus runs over rickshaw in Bhakkar The injured were shifted to district headquarters hospital Karak. On March 30, as many as eight people including seven students of a local school were crushed to death when a speeding bus ran over their rickshaw here. The horrific accident took place at Jhang-Bhakkar Road when seven schoolgirls were heading home after appearing i

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has arrested a suspect — said to be a religious scholar — wanted in a Modaraba scam worth over Rs7 billion from the United Arab Emirates through Interpol, the bureau's spokesperson said on Sunday. “An accused, Mufti Abdullah Shaukat, has been arrested by NAB through Interpol from the UAE,” the official said. The suspect was wanted in a corruption reference regarding a Modaraba scam whereby a man named Shafiqur Rehman had cheated the public at large by collecting Rs7.2bn under false promises of investment and profits. The Ponzi scheme was run by a well-organised syndicate of 12 alleged criminals in Karachi who had been successful in defrauding around a hundred innocent people. “The arrested accused, Mufti Abdullah Shaukat, was wanted for issuing a 'false fatwa' in favour of the main accused, Shafiqur Rehman, illegally declaring his business as legal and legitimate under Islamic laws,” said the NAB official. The suspect had "

MULTAN:  According to unofficial and unconfirmed results, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) candidate Malik Wasif Mazhar Raan won by-election in Multan’s constituency PP-218 on Sunday, ARY News reported. PTI’s candidate Malik Wasif Mazhar Raan clinched PP-218 seat by securing 46,988 votes while his close contender, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Malik Muhammad Arshad received 39486 votes. The Punjab Assembly seat fell vacant after the death of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) MPA Mazhar Abbas Raan. Major contenders vying for the seat were Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Malik Wasif Mazhar Raan, Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Malik Muhammad Arshad. Malik Shahid Abbas Raan, Muhammad Tufail, Muhammad Ramzan and Muhammad Israr-Ul-Haq Cheema were contesting elections as independent candidates. Read More: Vote count underway for PP-218 by-poll in Multan Earlier, the counting of votes was underway after the polling process for Multan’s PP-218 seat ended peacefully in the const

Opener Usman Khawaja missed a deserved hundred by two runs as Australia punished Pakistan in the fifth and final one-day international in Dubai on Sunday. Khawaja was all set for his third hundred this month but fell for 98 which lifted Australia to an imposing 327-7 in 50 overs after they were sent into bat on a flat Dubai stadium pitch. Glenn Maxwell celebrated his 100th one-day international with a thumping 33-ball 70, Shaun Marsh scored 68-ball 61 and skipper Aaron Finch made 69-ball 53 to lead a run spree against a hapless Pakistan bowling attack. It was Maxwell's ten fours and three sixes that helped Australia to 107 runs in the last ten overs. He was finally bowled by paceman Junaid Khan who finished with three wickets for 73. Khawaja, who hit ten boundaries in his 111-ball innings, set the platform with a solid 134-run opening stand with Finch for pair's second hundred run stand in the series, which Australia lead 4-0. Finch was finally bowled by pacer Usman Shinwa

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday said the laws against defamation and derogatory publication were not effective, ARY News reported. “Ineffective laws have impeded the process of accountability and justice,” Fawad Chaudhry wrote in a letter to the Supreme Court registrar. He said he wanted to call attention of the chief justice on public issues. He said print, electronic and digital media had witnessed unlimited boom and they made a deep impact on different classes in society. The information minister suggested posting judges in every city and district. Read More:  Resolution of lawyer community’s issues top priority: Fawad Chaudhary “Four judges should be posted in the districts with 5 million or above population. Two judges should be appointed for the district with 2.5 million or above population,” he said. He pleaded to make the process of evidence, witness and complaint easy. He said the law should be amended for facilitati

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Opener Usman Khawaja missed a deserved hundred by two runs as Australia punished Pakistan in the fifth and final one-day international in Dubai on Sunday. Khawaja was all set for his third hundred this month but fell for 98 which lifted Australia to an imposing 327-7 in 50 overs after they were sent into bat on a flat Dubai stadium pitch. Glenn Maxwell celebrated his 100th one-day international with a thumping 33-ball 70, Shaun Marsh scored 68-ball 61 and skipper Aaron Finch made 69-ball 53 to lead a run spree against a hapless Pakistan bowling attack. It was Maxwell's ten fours and three sixes that helped Australia to 107 runs in the last ten overs. He was finally bowled by paceman Junaid Khan who finished with three wickets for 73. Khawaja, who hit ten boundaries in his 111-ball innings, set the platform with a solid 134-run opening stand with Finch for pair's second hundred run stand in the series, which Australia lead 4-0. Finch was finally bowled by pacer Usman Shinwa

SRINAGAR: At least two Indian soldiers, deployed in occupied Kashmir, committed suicide with in last 24 hours, said Kashmir Media Service (KMS). According to the KMS, one of the deceased soldier was identified as Ramphul Meena and he was associated with Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). A police officer said that the soldier Meena shot himself with his official rifle inside his camp at Sericulture Office in Solina area of Srinagar while he was on duty. It is pertinent to mention here that the suicide rate among Indian soldiers deployed in occupied Kashmir was on the rise. This recent incident has added to the number of suicide deaths of the Indian troops and police personnel to 422 in the held valley since January 2007 till date. Read More: Indian soldier commits suicide in Srinagar Earlier, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in Kashmir had committed suicide in Srinagar on January 6. The soldier, identified as Mukesh Bhawuk, had injured two of his fellow soldiers

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Counting is underway for a by-poll in Multan's PP-218 constituency which was held to fill a vacant Punjab Assembly seat on Sunday. The PP-218 seat had fallen vacant in January after the death of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) MPA Malik Mazhar Abbas Raan. As per unofficial and preliminary results received from eight polling stations, PTI candidate Malik Wasif Mazhar Raan is leading the race with 2,834 votes while PPP candidate Malik Arshad Raan, who has the support of the PML-N, has bagged 2,460 votes. In February, the PTI had awarded its ticket for the PP-219 by-election to Malik Wasif, the son of late MPA Mazhar Abbas. The same week, the PML-N had announced that it would support the PPP candidate in the contest for the vacant seat. Polling began on Sunday at 8am and ended at 5pm without any breaks or major disturbances. Voters who were inside polling stations when the voting time ended were allowed to cast their votes. from The Dawn News - Home https://ift.tt/2FO7IcU vi

KARACHI: A woman has fled after stealing jewelry and important documents from her husband’s house in Karachi, ARY News reported on Sunday. The husband has lodged a first information report against her spouse. The couple had made friendship on telephone and then contracted love marriage in December last year, the man said. He said her wife had fled from his house in February.  “One day my wife phoned me and asked to come home soon. When I arrived at home I found it locked. I broke into the house and found that jewelry and important documents were also missing,” he said. The husband said her wife had got her pictures deleted from his mobile phone one night before she committed this crime. Read More:  Free-will marriage couple seeks police protection after relatives threaten On March 18, a couple who had contracted a free-will marriage had sought protection from police after relatives allegedly try to abduct the girl in Khanpur. In a statement, Naseem Bibi had said she had marri

Counting is underway for a by-poll in Multan's PP-218 constituency which was held to fill a vacant Punjab Assembly seat on Sunday. The PP-218 seat had fallen vacant in January after the death of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) MPA Malik Mazhar Abbas Raan. As per unofficial and preliminary results received from eight polling stations, PTI candidate Malik Wasif Mazhar Raan is leading the race with 2,834 votes while PPP candidate Malik Arshad Raan, who has the support of the PML-N, has bagged 2,460 votes. In February, the PTI had awarded its ticket for the PP-219 by-election to Malik Wasif, the son of late MPA Mazhar Abbas. The same week, the PML-N had announced that it would support the PPP candidate in the contest for the vacant seat. Polling began on Sunday at 8am and ended at 5pm without any breaks or major disturbances. Voters who were inside polling stations when the voting time ended were allowed to cast their votes. from The Dawn News - Home https://ift.tt/2I318AL vi

MULTAN: The counting of votes is currently underway after the polling process for Multan’s PP-128 seat ended peacefully in the constituency, ARY News reported.   The polling process commenced at 8am today and ended at 5pm without any break at the 138 polling stations in the constituency. 32 polling stations were declared sensitive and at least one thousand law enforcement personnel were deployed around them. The Punjab Assembly seat fell vacant after the death of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) MPA Mazhar Abbas Raan. Major contenders vying for the seat are Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Malik Wasif Mazhar Raan, Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Malik Muhammad Arshad. Malik Shahid Abbas Raan, Muhammad Tufail, Muhammad Ramzan and Muhammad Israr-Ul-Haq Cheema are contesting elections as independent candidates. Read More: Voting begins for by-poll in Multan’s PP-218 Earlier in the day, polling for by-election in Multan’s PP-218 had  begun amid tight security, The polling started

Turks voted on Sunday in local elections which President Tayyip Erdogan has described as a matter of survival for Turkey and which were tarnished by violence that left two party members dead in the country's southeast. Erdogan, who has dominated Turkish politics for more than 16 years thanks in part to strong economic growth, has become the country's most popular, yet also most divisive, leader in modern history. However, he could be dealt an electoral blow with polls indicating his ruling AK Party (AKP) may lose control of the capital Ankara, and even Istanbul, the country's largest city. With the economy contracting following a currency crisis last year in which the lira lost more than 30 percent of its value, some voters appeared ready to punish Erdogan, who has ruled with an increasingly uncompromising stance. “I was actually not going to vote today, but when I saw how much they (AKP) were flailing, I thought this might be time to land them a blow. Everyone is unhap

KARACHI: Sindh Rangers on Sunday collared 11 suspects during raids in different areas of Karachi, ARY News reported. The captured suspects include target killers, robbers and drug peddlers, said the Sindh Rangers spokesperson. The Rangers spokesman said weapons, narcotics and looted valuables were recovered from their possession. The suspects were arrested from Shah Faisal Colony, Madina Colony, Sir Syed, Frere, Surjani Town. The spokesman said the suspects had been handed over to police for legal action. Read More:  Sindh police arrest two hardcore terrorists from Balochistan: IG On March 28, Sindh Rangers had apprehended seven suspects including gangster Azhar Commando affiliated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Karachi. The Sindh Rangers spokesperson had said the suspects were arrested during raids in different areas including Malir, Darakhshan and New Karachi Industrial Area. The spokesman had said they were involved in mugging and different other crimes while il

KARACHI: Sindh’s Inspector General of Police Dr Syed Kaleem Imam on Sunday claimed to have arrested two hardcore terrorists from Balochistan. Dr Syed Kaleem said that the terrorists were involved in bomb blasts in Jacobabad, Shikarpur and Kashmore Districts. The police chief said that the terrorists used to escape to Balochistan after carrying out terrorist activities in Sindh. He said that security at Sindh-Balochistan border had been tightened to arrest the criminals. Dr Syed Kaleem Imam said that law and order situation improved in Sindh after the new security measures. Read More: Police say, arrested two key terror suspects Malir Police in a joint operation with an intelligence agency had arrested two terror suspects allegedly involved in Sehwan shrine bombing attack and other terrorism incidents in Sindh and Balochistan on February 20. DIG Police East Amir Farooqui and SSP Malir Irfan Bahadur in a press briefing had said that District Malir Police in a joint operation with

TAXILA: Former interior minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, on Sunday said that he will make a decision for future political plans at an ‘appropriate time”, ARY News reported. While addressing a press conference in Taxila, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan revealed that he has had close contacts with a political party which stops him joining any of its opponent political party of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N). The senior politician, however, hinted that he would finalise his future political strategy at an appropriate time. The former interior minister refused to make comments over PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif. Nisar said that he cannot comment over Sharif as his matter was under proceeding in the court. He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has the same point of view for India like Nawaz Sharif. A detailed debate must be held over matters relating to Pakistan and India, he added. Nisar reiterated that he has nothing to set good expectations from India. Read More: Notice issued to ECP

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LAHORE: Police apprehended 17 suspects involved in kite flying from different areas of Lahore on Sunday, ARY News reported. The spokesperson of Lahore police said 11 cases had been lodged under Kite Flying Ordinance against the suspects in relevant police stations. Kites, strings, kite reel winders and other materials were recovered from their possession, said the spokesman. On March 25, a resolution was submitted to the Punjab Assembly seeking strict implementation of ban of kite flying to prevent fatal incidents. The resolution was submitted by a legislator of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Kanwal Liaquat. According to the resolution, the chemical used in strings for kites was causing serious incidents and claiming lives of people. “The incidents caused by kite-flying have become routine in different parts of the province,” it said. Read More:  Resolution in Punjab Assembly seeks strict implementation on kite-flying ban The resolution also censured the provincial administration

SHIKARPUR: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday said that they would ensure conservation of forest at all cost. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari along with his party leadership visited Madeji forest, area of Shikarpur district and said that strict action would be taken against encroachers. He directed the concerned authorities to retrieve forest land from the land grabbers. Bilawal said that the provincial government was facing financial problems to complete the ongoing development projects as the federal government did not issue due share to Sindh government. He warned the federal government against reserving 18th Amendment. The PPP leader termed government move to rename Benazir Income Support Programme a conspiracy. Read More: Zartaj Gul calls for creating awareness about forests Earlier,  State Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul on March 22, had said media was the only channel that could help spread information to any part of the world. Giving an

GHOTKI: Police officials have recovered a 14-year-old girl allegedly kidnapped for being sold by her maternal uncle during a raid conducted in Khanpur Mahar town of Ghotki, ARY News reported on Sunday. Police said that the girl, a resident of Chowk Bahadurpur area of Punjab’s Rahim Yar Khan city, was abducted before one week. The accused person was also arrested in the police action, however, identification of the person has not yet disclosed. Police detailed that the girl was kept as hostage by her uncle, who sold her to a Karachi resident Rahim Dad in Rs40,000. A case has been registered against the culprits in Iqbalabad police station against the heinous crime. On January 13, Karachi Police had foiled an attempt by a man to kidnap a girl near Super Highway. According to police, they got information from a citizen on helpline 15 that a man was manhandling and trying to abduct a girl near SITE, Super Highway. Read More: Kasur: Minor girls recovered from sex-trafficking racket

Pakistan won the toss and opted to field first against Australia in the final one-day international (ODI) between the two teams at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The green shirts are looking to avoid a whitewash in the series, which Australia leads 4-0. Australia brought in fast bowler Jason Behrendorff in place of Nathan Coulter-Nile. Mohammad Abbas was the only change made by Pakistan from its last game as the fast bowler replaced youngster Mohammad Hasnain. On Friday, Australia pulled off a sensational last-over, six-run win despite a debut hundred by Pakistan's Abid Ali and second career century by Mohammad Rizwan in the fourth ODI. Lineups: Pakistan: Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Haris Sohail, Saad Ali, Umar Akmal, Imad Wasim (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Yasir Shah, Usman Shinwari, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Abbas Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa, Kane

LAHORE: Spokesperson to Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Gill, on Sunday said that he was given authority to hold inspection of different provincial departments and present report to CM Usman Buzdar, ARY News reported. Shahbaz Gill, in his Twitter message, said that the chief minister has directed him to inspect different provincial institution and present [performance] report. He added that CM Buzdar believed on direct contact with Punjab nationals. Read More: CM Usman Buzdar directs Punjab bureaucracy for result-oriented work “Usman Buzdar is captain of Punjab and I will fulfil responsibility given by the captain,” he said. وزیراعلی پنجاب سردار عثمان بزدار صاحب نے مجھے احکامات دیئے ہیں کہ میں مختلف اداروں کا دورہ کروں اور رپورٹ وزیراعلی صاحب کو پیش کروں وزیراعلی عوام سے براہ راسست رابطے پر یقین رکھتے ہیں۔سردار عثمان بزدار پنجاب کے کپتان ہیں اور کپتان جو بھی ذمہ داری دیں گے انشااللہ پوری کروں گا — Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) March 31, 2019 In a separate statement, Punjab CM

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Divisions in Pakistani English and Urdu press stark in its coverage of case from Samaa Digital https://ift.tt/2YBJKIW

LAHORE: Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar has inaugurated Abdul Hakeem section of Lahore-Multan Motorway (M-3), ARY News reported on Sunday. The newly-constructed motorway section is 230 kilometres long, which connects M-3 road network to Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh and Khanewal. Eight interchanges and three service areas were also constructed at the section. While addressing the inauguration ceremony, Governor Sarwar said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership will meet expectations of the nationals. He said that PTI leaders produced themselves for accountability before the nation. He added that unemployment was common in the country due to corruption which deprived people of food and shelter. Read More: Swat motorway to baring economic revolution in KP: CM Mahmood Sarwar said that the root cause of the miseries being faced by Pakistanis is corruption and the present government will not tolerate this menace. He said that all segments of

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KARACHI: A confronting situation has emerged between police and the provincial government as police officers failed to appear before an investigation committee formed by Sindh home department, ARY News reported on Sunday. Earlier, the Sindh home department had taken notice and initiated a probe against police officials over baton charge and heavy tear gas shelling to disperse protesting educators outside Karachi Press Club (KPC) on March 28. The police officers, who were summoned by the investigation committee, did not appear to record their statements. Read More: Police use baton, tear gas to disperse protesting teachers in Karachi The home department, in its notice, stated that the police officers should also submit their replies over their absence before the inquiry committee despite receiving orders be appear within one hour. Following instruction of the Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Superintendent Police (SP) Saddar, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Saddar and Sta

KECH: At least 93 new cases of fatal dengue fever reported within a week in Kech district of Balochistan, ARY News reported on Sunday. Dengue fever hit 93 people during the last seven days, exceeding the previous figure to 243 in three weeks, District Health Officer (DHO) confirmed ARY News . According to district administration, 12 cases were being reported daily in Turbat while three deaths were confirmed. The health officer said that the administration was still awaiting special funds demanded by the provincial government to control further spread of the disease. He detailed that anti-dengue spray is being conducted in highly-affected areas and inside houses besides initiation of an awareness campaign citizens to prevent themselves from the fatal disease. Read More: Dengue larvae found in Rawalpindi On March 24, Dengue outbreak had widened in Kech district of Balochistan as more than 150 cases have been reported in the area from January. According to the District Health Offi

CHAKWAL: National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser said on Sunday the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is serious about alleviating sufferings of the poor people reeling under abject poverty.  The speaker in a statement said Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced a programme for poverty eradication in the country. He said his association with the prime minister dated back to the time when he had not entered politics, adding that they ran fundraising campaigns for the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital together. Qaiser said the country faces challenges at present but its future is bright. He hoped the government would turn Pakistan into a country that every Pakistani will feel proud of. The NA speaker said the government succeeded on various occasions on diplomatic front. Read Also:   Prime Minister Imran Khan launches ‘Ehsas’ programme for poverty alleviation Addressing the launch ceremony of  ‘Ehsas’  programme for poverty alleviation in Islamabad on March 27, PM Imr

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Australia have an unassailable 4-0 lead over Pakistan in the five-match ODI series from Samaa Digital https://ift.tt/2V5wUR6

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Turks began voting on Sunday in local elections that President Tayyip Erdogan has described as a matter of survival for the country. Erdogan, who has dominated Turkish politics for more than 16 years thanks to strong economic growth and supreme campaigning skills, has become the country's most popular, yet also most divisive, leader in modern history. However, he could be dealt an electoral blow with polls indicating his ruling AK Party (AKP) may lose control of the capital Ankara, and even Istanbul, the country's largest city. Voters in provinces in eastern Turkey began voting at 7:00am (0400 GMT), while voting in the rest of Turkey begins at 8:00am. Polling stations close at 4:00pm in the east and 5:00pm in the west. Just over 57 million people are eligible to vote. A clear picture of the winners will probably emerge around midnight. With the economy contracting following a currency crisis last year in which the lira lost more than 30 per cent of its value, some voters a

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Health Amir Mehmood Kiani on Sunday said the facility of ‘Sehat Insaf Card’ has been extended to all parts of the country. Speaking to the media after his visit to the under-construction Mother and Child Hospital and Urology Hospital in Rawalpindi, he said eight million people living below the poverty line across the country will benefit from free medical facility under the PTI government’s Sehat Insaf Card Program. The minister said the government is taking revolutionary steps in health sector and their fruits are also reaching people. He said efforts are being made to improve performance of government hospitals under the direction of the Prime Minister. Read Also:  “Ehsas”, “Sehat Insaf Card” programs to extend in Sindh: PM Khan Amir Mehmood Kiani said health sector was ignored in the past. He said no society can progress without spending on health and education. He committed that the government will remove the deprivations of people they having f

A Chinese artist on Saturday unveiled a sculpture made of discarded mobile phones and shaped like a cell tower in a bid to highlight the problem of electronic waste. The phones were rigged to a metal frame and synchronised so their screens would flash in various colours. “The inspiration of my tower comes from the Tower of Babel in the Bible,” artist Shen Bolun told AFP, referring to the origin story explaining why people speak different languages. Displayed in a busy shopping mall in Beijing, the sculpture attracted scores of curious bystanders who stopped to take photos of the exhibit. “I originally thought environmental protection is waste sorting, but I didn’t realise cellphones could be recycled and used again,” said primary school student Li Jiaxing, who was viewing the artwork with his mother. “After seeing this tower, I decided to donate my old cellphone here to make use of its remaining value.” China’s waste from computers, mobile phones, and other electronics will reac

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FAKAHA, Ivory Coast: “I’m sure! I tell you, he came. I saw him!” insists Soro Navaghi, keen to extinguish any doubts about Picasso’s visit to a small Ivorian village famed for its painted textiles. Whether in tourist brochures or online, it is not unusual to find references to Picasso’s reputed visit to Fakaha, a remote village in northern Ivory Coast, some 650 kilometres (400 miles) from Abidjan, the economic capital. French travel guide Petit Fute describes Fakaha as “internationally renowned” for its hand-spun cotton cloth which is painted by the Senufo people and that once “charmed a certain Picasso as he paid a discreet visit to the region at the turn of the century.” A whole mythology has grown up around the question of Africa and Picasso, who never spoke of having been to Fakaha. For the artist who once provocatively brushed off the subject, saying: “Negro art? Don’t know it” was also an ardent admirer and passionate collector of African art, who built up an impressive priv

LAHORE: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s spokesperson Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar on Sunday criticised Prime Minister Imran Khan over his recent statement with regard to the 18 th  Constitutional Amendment. Khokhar in a statement said the prime minister lately accepted that his target is the 18 th Amendment. The motive behind bringing Imran Khan to power has been exposed, the PPP leader said, questioning the federation had not become bankrupt in the past one decade since the passage of the 18 th Amendment, how did it went bankrupt now? PM Khan was leveling allegations to cover up his failures, adding economic situation has become a national security issue. Read Also:  ‘Corruption in Sindh halted its prosperity’: PM Imran Khan Addressing a rally at Khangarh in Ghotki on Saturday, Prime Minister Imran Khan had said after the 18th Amendment, the federation has become bankrupt. He had said the center had to face fiscal shortfall to the tune of Rs600 billion

He announced that Sohail Mahmood would be taking over as foreign secretary from Samaa Digital https://ift.tt/2I1mcaI

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday announced that Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood has been appointed as the new foreign secretary of the country. Qureshi, while speaking to reporters in Multan, said that the decision to appoint Mahmood foreign secretary had been made following discussions with Prime Minister Imran Khan. Incumbent Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua will be retiring on April 16, Qureshi said, adding that he had learned a great deal and received a lot of help from her. He thanked Janjua for her services. "Challenges came up in difficult foreign affairs," he said, "But she always handled things with courage, bravery, clarity, and with a smile." The foreign minister said he had spoken to Mahmood on the telephone yesterday and congratulated him over his new appointment. "He is a seasoned diplomat," Qureshi said, pointing out that Mahmood ─ a senior diplomat who has garnered a reputation for integrity ─ had

DHAKA: Police in Bangladesh said Sunday they had arrested the owners of an office tower in Dhaka that caught fire earlier this week, killing 26 people and renewing the country’s debate over lax safety standards. The latest deadly blaze to hit Bangladesh’s congested capital tore through the 22-storey FR Tower on Thursday, leaving some of the hundreds trapped inside screaming for help as horrified onlookers massed outside. Police said they had detained two men, S.M.H.I. Faruque and Tasvir Ul Islam — who is district leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) — in the capital, after filing charges against them for criminal negligence. “We arrested Faruque just after midnight. He is the 45 percent owner of the building. He also owns the land on which the building was constructed,” deputy commissioner Mashiur Rahman told AFP. Senior police official Shahjahan Saju told AFP that Islam, who contested the parliamentary election in December and lost, was arrested at 11pm (17

An MiG-27 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Jodhpur in Rajasthan on Sunday, Times of India (TOI) reported quoting officials. The pilot of the MiG-27 aircraft ejected safely, said TOI , adding that the aircraft was on a routine mission when it crashed. According to the publication, officials cited "engine problems" as the reason for the crash of the "MiG-27 UPG aircraft which got airborne from Utarlai Air Force base". Preliminary reports indicate no loss of property or life on the ground, TOI added. This is the second Indian jet to crash this month; earlier on March 8, the IAF lost an MiG-21 after it crashed while on routine patrol in Rajasthan because of a "bird hit after take off". Pakistan had downed two Indian aircraft on Feb 27, at least one of which was a MiG-21 Bison. The loss had triggered Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to say the results of the dogfight would have been different if India had inducted Rafale fighter

PARIS: The Eiffel Tower was plunged into darkness late on Saturday as the city of Paris switched off the lights on its best-known tourist attraction to mark this year’s Earth Hour. The global event, organized by environmental group WWF to push for action on climate change and other man-made threats to the planet, sees nearly 200 major landmarks around the world unplugged at 8:30 pm local time for its 13th annual edition. They include New York’s Empire State Building, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil and the Sydney Opera House. Ahead of the Eiffel Tower shutdown, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and junior environment minister Brune Poirson appeared at the foot of the 130-year-old edifice for a public discussion on global warming and declining biodiversity. The annual Earth Hour has grown steadily since the first event in 2007 and is now marked in more than 180 countries and territories, according to its organizers. The post Eiffel Tower goes dark for Earth Hour appeared first on

NEW DELHI: India has lost its another aircraft as one more MiG-27 UPG fighter jet of Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in Sirohi city of Rajasthan on Sunday morning, Indian media reported. According to reports, the fighter jet was on a routine missing from Jodhpur which was crashed in Sirohi, about 180 kilometres away, NDTV  reported. However, no clarification was made for survival of the pilot so far. Further details of the crash are still undisclosed. Read More: Two Indian fighter jets crash after collision in Bengaluru On March 8, Indian Air Force (IAF)’s Soviet-era ground-attack aircraft MiG-21 had crashed in Rajasthan’s Bikaner during a ‘routine mission’. According to Indian media reports, the plane that took off from Nal near Bikaner crashed after being hit by a bird, whereas the pilot ejected himself safely. India has lost at least 8 war planes in the past one month, two of them were shot down by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in a recent engagement and a pilot Abhinandan was

Attacker scores both goals in 2-0 Catalan derby win from Samaa Digital https://ift.tt/2FLcp6V

Citizens clinch 2-0 win over The Cottagers from Samaa Digital https://ift.tt/2OBK7Ph

KARACHI: The Pakistan Railways’ VIP category Jinnah Express will start its first journey from Lahore’s Cantt station at 3:00 pm, ARY News reported on Sunday. The passenger train will comprise 12 air-conditioned business-class bogies equipped with television, internet, mobile charge and other facilities. Passengers will be provided free meal including breakfast, lunch and dinner. PR has set railway fare from Lahore to Karachi up to Rs6500 per person (adult) and Rs4900 for children. Earlier on March 30, Prime Minister Imran Khan had inaugurated non-stop Jinnah Express train and launched the renovation works at the Lahore Railway Station. PM Khan thanked Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed for inviting him for the inauguration of the train.  He paid tribute to the minister for uplifting Pakistan Railways. Read More: PM Imran Khan inaugurates non-stop Jinnah Express train Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and Sheikh Rasheed were also present on this oc

PARIS: Big cities beset with gridlocked traffic, major regions producing coal, pockets of heavy industry encased by mountains — Europe’s air pollution hotspots are clearly visible from space on most sunny weekdays. All across the continent, tens of millions of people live and work in areas where average air pollution levels are well above the maximum limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). But the density and type of pollutants can vary from town to town, and sometimes from block to block, depending on whether one is next to an expressway or inside an urban island of leafy green. That variability makes it nearly impossible to say with accuracy which of Europe’s cities have the most befouled air. But it is possible to pick out hotspot regions, and rank urban areas by type of pollutant. – Italy’s Po Valley –  On maps prepared by the European Environment Agency (EEA), Italy’s Po Valley is covered with a wide, stain-like blotch of air pollution from the Ligurian S