Karachi Heatwave Death Toll Soars to 1203

 
As per the statistics issued by Director General (DG) Health Sindh, at least 1203 people have died because of the heatwave. Meanwhile, the series of deaths in interior Sindh is also not stopping as several people died today as well. A 15-year-old boy and a woman lost their lives in Thal Tehsil of Jacobabad, another two in Shikarpur, and one in Larkana. Hundreds of patients with conditions connecting to the heatwave are still receiving treatments at the hospitals in Karachi and more patients are being brought in.

Taiwan water park fire

Tally of injured rises to 516

TAIPEI (Reuters) -- The number of people injured in a fire at a Taiwan water amusement park rose to 516 on Sunday, government officials said, with more than 180 still in intensive care.   

Police investigators inspect the stage area after an accidental explosion during a music concert at the Formosa Water Park in New Taipei City, Taiwan, on June 28. © AP

     Media reported four mainland Chinese and two foreigners were among those injured after Saturday's fire, during a party where up to 1,000 revellers were sprayed with coloured powder as they danced to music, seeking to escape the summer heat.

     The blaze, which broke out around 8.30 p.m. at the Formosa Fun Coast water park on the outskirts of the capital, Taipei, is suspected to have been caused by an explosion of the powder, local government official Lin Chieh-yu told Reuters.
     "It remains under investigation as to what made the powder explode," he added, however.
     Authorities have banned the use of the powder until the investigation is completed.
     "The next few days will be a critical time for the injured," Taiwan PremierMao Chi-kuo told reporters, adding that 410 people were still in hospital on Sunday, with 194 being treated for serious injuries.
     In the immediate aftermath of the explosion, rescuers treated hundreds of people, most of them aged between 20 and 30, wearing wet swimsuits and lying on inflatable plastic doughnuts. Television showed images of people running from sky-high flames.
     "There was blood and people were on fire," one injured man said.
     No death has yet been reported, but victims of the incident suffered burnsto the limbs, with some passing out from the pain while others had burned clothes stuck to their skin, media reports and pictures showed.
     "She is young. A student," sobbed the father of an 18-year-old girl withburns on 80 percent of her body, according to television footage.

Revenue loss from tax exemptions

HE National Assembly passed the federal budget 2015-16 last Tuesday. But it does not reflect the changes secretly made by the Federal Board of Revenue while the budget was still being debated.

The tax officials converted a 33pc increase in tax exemptions to a decline while the budgetary proposals were being debated.

Also read: Ishaq Dar eyes 7pc growth by tenure end

They did the trick by changing figures in the tax expenditure chapter in the Pakistan Economic Survey 2014-15. The figures put on the finance ministry’s website differ from those given in the Survey, which was released on June 4.

There is no explanation by the tax authorities for making the changes in the total volume of exemptions to show a feel-good figure. One tax official said the raise in tax exemption figure was a typographical error.

However, the changes introduced in the survey were under three heads of sales tax rates. So it was actually a subtraction of Rs253bn from the total projected amount of Rs478.4bn in sales tax exemptions.

‘No firm can afford to stagnate’

SOME businessmen have an insatiable hunger for growth. S.M. Tanveer is one of them.
“If you do not grow your business, it will ultimately die,” he stresses in an interview with Dawn. “You don’t have to look hard to see that growth is at the centre of every successful business. No company can afford to stagnate.”
But, he notes, there isn’t a single recipe or path that leads to growth. “Every company and family has its own growth strategy that fits its circumstances and goals. The growth model of one company will not ensure success for another. Also, you have to consider all the peculiar business conditions and environment in which you are operating before deciding on the growth path you want to take.”
Little wonder, then, that he has chosen a route that is a digression from his family’s business path, and set up two separate lifestyle and entertainment companies that focus on the growing domestic market.
“Our family’s companies, the Din Group of Companies, have vended for brands ever since it entered into business. Now is the time to launch and establish our own brands,” Tanveer asserts.
A major reason for him to invest in the domestic market is the better investments returns it offers. “Growth in the export business is stagnating owing to a variety of factors: growing energy crunch, rising cost of doing business and poor security conditions etc. The domestic market, on the other hand, is expanding and people’s buying power is growing,” he points out.
His companies, grouped as Din Industries under the umbrella of the Din Group of Companies, plan to offer a whole range of lifestyle solutions to their customers. “We have launched brands of unstitched lawn for women, but ultimately plan to offer consumers everything that falls in the category of lifestyle — clothing, cosmetics, homes textiles, shoes, accessories and what not.”
While bigger profits were a major driver behind his decision to venture into new areas, the deteriorating conditions for manufacturers was yet another reason for him and his brothers to expand out of the family’s traditional textiles and leather export business.
“The trust in the manufacturing industry in Pakistan has significantly eroded,” Tanveer says of his decision to take a different growth route, which is new to his family.
“As a manufacturer, the better part of my day is usually consumed in managing the day-to-day issues, such as the availability of gas and electricity to keep our factories running. Manufacturing has become unviable and trading profitable.”

Pakistan Army preparing for final push in fight against militants

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's army is preparing for a final push in the coming weeks in its fight against militants, but there are concerns that rights are being rolled back in the name of
defeating terror.
A year on from the launch of a major offensive to eradicate strongholds of Taliban and other militants in North Waziristan tribal area, the military says the job is 90 per cent done.
It is now positioning troops around the Shawal Valley, a key location close to the Afghan border that is home to some of the last redoubts of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), according to locals and security sources.
The army says it has killed more than 2,700 militants since the launch of the offensive — dubbed Zarb-i-Azb — last June, and destroyed more than 800 of their hideouts.
A senior military official directly linked to the offensive said the army was gearing up for the final push and using air strikes before moving in ground troops.
“We are turning hard targets into soft through aerial bombing because forces expect a resistance in Shawal,” he told AFP.

ICC confirms Modi shared names of ‘corrupt’ players

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday confirmed receiving a letter from ex-Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi which revealed the names of top international cricketers involved in corruption in the Twenty20 tournament.
In the letter, from June 2013, the controversial Modi alleged that the players (names withheld) had received illegal payments to the amount of Rs 20 crores each from an Indian real estate mogul.
In the ‘confidential’ mail that had surfaced on Twitter on Saturday, Modi released details of the alleged corruption to ICC CEO David Richardson.
“The players are in close contact with real estate tycoon (name withheld). He is also a big punter and also book maker. I had banned him from bidding for any IPL teams… Reliable sources have informed me that he has paid in cash and kind (flats) to the above three in tune of 20 cr each,” Modi said in the letter.
The ICC on Sunday confirmed receiving the letter and said it had shared its details with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
“The ICC confirms that Mr Modi’s confidential e-mail, which was received in June 2013, and which has recently been published on Twitter, was provided to the ACSU at the time. The ACSU handled that information in accordance with its standard operating procedures, which included sharing it with the BCCI’s anti-corruption unit,” the ICC statement read.
According to Cricinfo, the ICC had informed the BCCI that it would carry out investigations into the matter since the players in question were internationals.
It is unclear whether any headway was made into the inquiry by the ICC's Anti-corruption Unit.
The IPL season in 2013 was mired in controversy after police launched legal proceedings against several officials and cricketers, including former Test fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, for illegal betting and spot-fixing.

Dollar inflows stabilise rupee

AMPLE dollar supply in the local currency market was said to have stabilised the rupee last week. The country’s forex reserves position also improved after receiving $706m from the World Bank on Thursday.
Nonetheless, the rupee had commenced the week in the interbank market with a loss of two paisas, which had pushed the dollar to Rs101.80 and Rs101.82 in the first trading session against the prior week’s close of Rs101.78 and Rs101.80.
The rupee shed another one-paisa in the second trading session, as the greenback rose marginally to Rs101.82 and Rs101.83.
The local currency then bounced back in the third trading session, regaining four paisas for buying and three paisas for selling, sending the dollar down to Rs101.78 and Rs101.80. The rupee-dollar parity remained unchanged in the fourth trading session.
The rupee inched up by one-paisa for selling but remained unchanged for buying in the last trading session, as the dollar closed the week at Rs101.78 and Rs101.79. As a result, the dollar stayed virtually unchanged on a weekly basis in the interbank market.

The right pakoras for your Iftar spread

ISLAMABAD: No one really remembers how or when pakoras joined the ranks of Rooh Afza and dates as a staple Iftar item in Pakistan. But each Ramazan, countless stalls pop up at every nook and corner where everything from aubergines to chicken are dipped in spicy batter and deep fried.

But in Islamabad, a city not known for its street food, finding the best pakora can be something of a challenge.

An obvious place to start is the Aabpara Market, the capital’s oldest commercial area, where an hour before Iftar, the easiest way to spot Babar Snacks Bar is by the crowds and, of course, the aroma of frying pakoras. The owner proudly tells us that he has been selling pakoras at this stall for nearly sixty years. “I cannot tell you my name because I am a government servant and I still have one year of service left,” he says with a chuckle.

“But mine is the oldest stall in Islamabad. We have green chilli, aubergine, potato and mixed vegetable pakora.”

The mixed pakora, sold at Rs200 per kilogram, is great if eaten fresh from the vat. Ingredients such as potatoes, onions, spinach and spices combine well with the gram flour batter. “Spinach has become very expensive, so we use it sparingly,” says the owner.

The more adventurous may opt for the deliciously tantalising green chilli pakoras. Combining the crisp batter with the spicy bite of the chilli, this pakora is guaranteed to wake up the taste buds after a daylong fast.

In nearby Melody Market too, numerous pakora stalls have been set up. The oldest among these is the Refreshment Centre, which is popular for its chicken pakoras. Sold at Rs800 a kilogram, these are only slightly different from fried chicken. Boneless chicken meatballs are dipped in traditional spicy gram flour batter and deep fried.

ATC accepts bail plea of MQM leader Amir Khan

KARACHI: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC-2) on Monday granted bail to senior Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) Rabita Committee member Amir Khan in a case pertaining to instigating terrorism and harbouring criminals.

The ATC-2 ordered Khan to pay Rs1 million in surety bonds. The court also ordered that Khan cannot leave the country without permission. Earlier the court had reserved its decision after hearing arguments from both sides.

Read: Order reserved for next week on Aamir Khan’s bail plea

The MQM leader and several others were booked for allegedly providing shelter to 26 wanted suspects arrested by Rangers during a pre-dawn raid on and around the party’s Nine Zero headquarters in Azizabad on March 11, and using them for terrorist activities.

Head constable shot dead in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: A head constable was shot dead by unknown men in Jabba Suhail area of Yakatut here on Monday.

According to Police Control Line, Head Constable Nigar Ali was on his way to duty when he was gunned down by unidentified assailants in Jabba Suhail. He died on the spot.

Police reached the site of attack, and launched an investigation into the attack.

The motive of the killing could not be ascertained till the filing of this report.

Earlier, last week, Head Constable Hashmat was killed and two others — including a policeman — were injured when unknown men opened on them at Peshawar's Judicial Complex.

Take a look: Head constable shot dead in Peshawar

Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, lies on the edge of Pakistan's tribal areas which have been labelled by Washington as the main sanctuary for Al Qaeda and Taliban militants in the country.

The city has seen frequent attacks by militants in the past few years, with targets ranging from civilians to policemen and other law enforcement personnel

Pakistan take on strong Great Britain side in HWL quarters

Pakistan will take on Great Britain in the Hockey World League quarter-final after Bobby Crutchley's side finished second in Pool B to complete the last eight lineup of the tournament in Antwerp, Belgium.
Pakistan had finished in the third spot in Pool A after being held to a 2-2 draw by France on Sunday, pitting them against the second-placed team in the other group.
Great Britain, ranked 5th* in the world rankings, defeated Malaysia 3-1 while Australia hammered India 6-2 and hosts Belgium overcame Ireland 2-1 in a controversial finish to the other matches on Sunday.
The quarter-finals lineup, all of which take place on July 1, now reads like this: Australia v Ireland | India v Malaysia | Pakistan v Great Britain | France v Belgium
Mohammad Imran's Greenshirts have had a disappointing tournament so far, winning a solitary game against Poland while playing out draws against India and France. They also suffered a humiliating 6-1 defeat to Australia.

Four suspected militants killed in Lahore shootout

LAHORE: The Counter-terrorism Department, Lahore police and intelligence agencies killed four suspected militants in an early-morning raid on a house in Sheikhupura district on Monday, officials said.
Intelligence agencies had earlier alerted security forces to the possibility of militants from Waziristan crossing into Lahore with the intent to carry out attacks on the provincial capital and Raiwind.
Acting on the tip-off, security forces raided on the Ferozewala house situated on Kala Shah Kaku Road.
Three suspected militants were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces, while one suicide bomber blew himself up during the confrontation. Four, including a policeman, were injured. Two of the wounded are believed to be terrorists.
“We had intelligence information about presence of suspected militants in a house and when a police party was sent there, the suspects opened fire at them,” provincial home minister Shuja Khanzada told AFP.
“Three militants were killed and the fourth one blew himself up and two others were wounded and captured,” he added.

Ayyan bail plea: LHC reserves decision

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday reserved its decision on supermodel Ayyan Ali’s bail plea in a case pertaining to charges of currency smuggling.

A single-member bench of the LHC, headed by Justice Abdul Sami Khan, was hearing the plea today.

During the hearing of the plea, customs officials maintained Ali was caught attempting to smuggle over $500,000 to a foreign country within Islamabad airport limits, in light of which her bail plea should be rejected.

Sardar Latif Khosa, the counsel for the accused, argued that Ayyan did not have a boarding card. He said the model, who had received the money after selling some of her properties, was attempting to hand it over to her brother at the airport when she was detained by customs officials.

After hearing the arguments, the court reserved its decision.

Ayyan had filed a bail plea in the LHC against her detention by customs officials in the ongoing currency smuggling case in a Rawalpindi customs court.

LHC accepts prosecutor plea seeking time to submit evidence against Ayyan

Ali's lawyer in an LHC hearing last week accused the plaintiff of employing delaying tactics, contending that the prosecutor had on several occasions sought more time to present evidence.

Earlier today, a Rawalpindi customs court extended Ayyan’s judicial remand until July 6. The model has been sent on judicial remand at least thirteen times since she was first detained by customs officials.

Ayyan Ali was arrested at Islamabad’s Benazir Bhutto International Airport on March 14 on charges of charges smuggling after being caught with over half a million dollars by customs officials.

Qadri arrives in Lahore

LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri who reached Lahore on Monday morning was greeting by a throng of supporters and activists at Allama Iqbal International Airport.
Heavy security arrangements were in place for the PAT leader's arrival. Although the party earlier refused to accept Punjab police security cover, the provincial government has provided eight Elite Forces vehicles to accompany Qadri's convoy.
The cleric's own car is a bullet-proof vehicle purchased for him by PAT leadership, according to an official communiqué.
A 150-strong PAT youth force contingent will also provide security to Qadri.
The PAT chief will be received by the party’s Lahore chapter. Organisers earlier claimed to have an assembly of at least 4,000 activists outside the airport.
From the airport, the PAT chief will lead a rally up to his Model Town home stopping at six points on the way – Bhatta Chowk, Ghazi Road, Qainchi Amar Sadhu, Kot Lakhpat, Akbar Chowk and Faisal Town – to wave to those coming to welcome him and join his procession.
Qadri makes his return to Pakistan just days after launching a “counter-terrorism” curriculum in London to rebut the message of militancy propagated by the Islamic State (IS) in order to prevent radicalisation of youths. He has returned to Pakistan after nearly seven months spent abroad for medical treatment.

Adnan Sami sings his first qawwali for Bajrangi Bhaijaan

AtifAslam isn't the only Pakistani who will feature on the soundtrack of Salman Khan-starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan. According to Times of India, Adnan Sami Khan will also lend his vocals to one song, which will be the first qawwali of his career. What's more, the singer will feature in the film during the song's performance - another first for his career.

"Salman called and said, 'Bro, there is this particular song and it's a qawwali and I'd really love you to sing it,'" shared Sami with Times of India, "I loved the challenge as I have never sung a qawwali before. And then he said, 'I'd like to have it picturised on you too.' I said, 'Okay.' For Salman anything."

"I am a typical Pathan," he continued, "Pyaar se mangoge, jaan haazir hai aur agar dosti ki hai toh nibhayenge. I have never appeared in a song that I have sung in a film before, even though there have been so many songs that I have sung and it's a pretty common request to ask a singer to appear in it, but I have never done it. But when Salman asked me to do it, I cannot say no."

The song, titled 'Bhardo Jholi Meri', is inspired by the Sabri brothers' original qawwali, and according to the director Kabir Khan, is Salman's favourite:

Salman had also earlier announced the presence of Adnan Sami in Bajrangi Bhaijaan:

The song's video has been shot inside one of Kashmir's famous shrines, the Aishmuqam Dargah, where no other film has been shot before.

No new heatwave this summer: Met official

KARACHI: The harsh heatwave which killed more than 1,300 people in Karachi and other parts of Sindh over the past few days has ended, says a Met official.
He said on Sunday that there was no threat of another such gruelling heatwave in the country, including its largest city along the Arabian Sea, this summer.
He said that in line with the climate pattern of June, hot and dry weather was expected in most parts of the country over the next few days with maximum temperature in the range of 45 to 47 degrees Celsius in the plains of south Punjab, upper Sindh, Sibbi and Makran divisions.
In the forecast for Monday, he said that a season low lay over Balochistan and adjoining areas with its trough extending north-eastwards. He said that weak moist currents were reaching the central and eastern parts and a shallow westerly wave was expected to approach upper parts of the country.
The weather official, meanwhile, said that rain-thundershowers were expected in some places of Malakand, Hazara, Kohat and Peshawar divisions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; in Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Faisalabad, Lahore, Gujranwala divisions in Punjab; in Zhob division in Balochistan; and Islamabad, Fata, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Duststorm is also likely at some places in Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sargodha, Sahiwal and Faisalabad divisions.
He said that on Sunday the weather remained hot and dry in most parts of the country although rain/thundershowers were reported from some places in Faisalabad, Hazara, Kohat divisions, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The Met official said that weather in Islamabad was expected to remain partly cloudy on Monday with chances of rain/thundershowers with maximum temperature expected to remain between 37 and 39 degrees Celsius.
He said the maximum temperature in Karachi on Sunday was 37 degrees Celsius and minimum 30 degrees with 65pc humidity. On Monday the weather in the city is expected to remain hot and humid with maximum temperature in the range of 36 and 38 degrees.
He said that on Monday the weather in Lahore was expected to remain partly cloudy with chances of rain / thundershowers with maximum temperature ranging between 39 and 41 degrees Celsius.

The Iftar-cum-dinner season

KARACHI: Here we go again! It’s that time of year when the faithful try and keep away from culinary temptation from dawn till dusk. But a visit, even a fleeting one, to Karachi’s restaurants, including upmarket hotels, will paint a picture that is nothing less than incredible. These days, there are not many eateries which at the time of Iftar have empty spaces. Tables are booked beforehand, and if you can’t book your table, and if you are not wise enough to reach the venue at least an hour before breaking of fast, you are invariably consigned to a long wait list.
There’s a reason for it. This Ramazan the Iftar time in Karachi is nearly quarter past seven in the evening, which is almost dinner time for a considerable number of families. So once you break your fast, you are more likely to have dinner with it too, because if you eat food a few hours later, it is likely to spoil your elaborate Sahri plans.
This works in favour of the food industry. As a result, they have the Iftar-cum-dinner settings at restaurants and hotels, serving both Iftar snacks and dinner meals in tandem. Naturally, for that they charge a per-person amount, which has redefined the word exorbitant.
And yet, people flock to these eating spots like moths to flame. Why?

Afshan Azad aka Padma Patil: Another Harry Potter star is all grown up

That was Azad as an awkward 16-year-old teenager. At the age of 27 now, Azad is making everyone on the internet do a double take.
The fashionista looks like she could be a long lost Kardashian sister.
Are those eyebrows on fleek or what?
Although everyone's been hyping about her good looks, Azad is actually confused by all the buzz as she tweets:
She is clearly not too amused by all the sudden attention.
Oh well, she's still gorgeous and managed to look at the silver lining by the end of it!
From Ron's adorable date, actress Afshan Azad has grown into a gorgeous woman. The British starlet of Bangladeshi descent who played Padma Patil in Harry Potter: Goblet of Fire just earned some serious Neville Longbottom-like points!
Padma Patil was Ron's unimpressed date at the Yule Ball in the movie. Sorry Ron but it looks like you missed out big time!

How Pakistan and India can prevent fatalities from heat waves in future

Washington — Heat waves in the past two months have killed a combined 3,000 citizens in India and Pakistan.
Is there anything the two countries could have done to minimise the harm?
“You don’t necessarily need a complicated solution,” Anjali Jaiswal, director of the India programme at the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group, told Mashable.
In both countries, residents complained about the lack of a reliable power supply and said that the government could have prevented deaths by investing in the electrical infrastructure.  But Rajita Kurup, Oxfam India’s food and climate change programme coordinator, said most casualties were poor migrants who couldn’t afford air conditioners. Electric companies worldwide experience the highest demand during heat waves, as customers crank up air conditioners and fans to try to stay cool. But an overtaxed and aging electrical grid in Pakistan struggles to keep up with demand during normal temperatures. When heat waves hit, blackouts are common.
Pakistan newspaper Dawn reported the energy crisis put hospital patients at risk. Dr Khalid Masood, medical superintendent of a government-run hospital in Karachi, said the mortalities at the hospital would have doubled if they didn’t have a back-up generator.
He noted prevention steps are simple: drinking oral rehydration salts and covering the head with a wet cloth. In response to heat waves, the local government in Ahmedabad created a four-fold approach following a 2010 heat wave that led to 1,344 deaths in the region alone.

Busy road calls for urgent repairs

ISLAMABAD: One of the busiest roads of the twin cities, I.J Principal Road is in urgent need of repair to ensure smooth traffic flow.
While some maintenance work was begun last week, it was not completed and a major segment of the road is still riddled with numerous potholes.
The road was originally built for light traffic travelling at a speed of up to 80km per hour but heavy traffic has been allowed on the road for many years. Loaded trailers and trucks ply on it, damaging the road surface and forcing the traffic to move at snail’s pace.
“Those who drive fast on this pothole riddled road endanger not only their own lives but those of pedestrians,” Shoaib Ahmed, a motorist said in Sunday.
Ambulance drivers and their patients suffer when travelling on this damaged road. “I lost my keys when my motorcycle hit a big pothole,” a motorcyclist Arshad Khan said.
A commuter, Farid Khan, said every day a truck with a broken suspension, caused by the bumby surface of the road, is seen parked on the side.
“The Capital Development Authority (CDA) should immediately start repair work by filling the potholes and installing signboards which are missing,” Shamim Akhtar, a driver said.
According to a traffic police official some 200,000 vehicles use the IJP Road every day. The road is also a link between Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The heavy flow of traffic from Pirwadhai, 9th Avenue, Double Road, Pindora Chungi, New Katarian, Dhoke Hassu, Khayaban-i-Sir Syed, and Faizabad enters I.J. Principal Road, creating traffic jams especially during rush hours.

Yemeni govt rejects new talks

 

Air strikes by Saudi-led forces hit military bases across Yemen on Friday, and the country’s foreign minister was quoted as saying there was no need to convene another peace summit after the first round of talks failed.
Talks in Geneva last week ended without a resolution to the conflict, which has claimed more than 2,800 lives, as the Iran-allied Houthi movement and Saudi-backed President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi refused to back down.
Ten people were killed in air raids in Jawf, a northern province bordering Saudi Arabia, residents said. Fighter jets also struck the capital Sanaa, the Houthis’ northern stronghold in Saada, as well as the provinces of Marib, Shabwa, Bayda and Aden in the centre and south of the country.
Mr Hadi’s Foreign Minister Reyad Yassin Abdulla said his government had no interest in organising a new meeting in Geneva, Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported on Friday, and would instead work with all parties to implement United Nations Security Council resolution 2216.
The Houthis reject that resolution, which calls for them to withdraw from cities under their control, return seized arms and allow Mr Hadi to return from his Riyadh exile.

200 injured in explosion at Taiwan water park

TAIPEI: More than 200 people were injured, over 80 of them seriously, in an explosion at a water park outside Taiwan’s capital Taipei on Saturday after coloured powder being sprayed onto a crowd ignited, officials said.
Footage on the Apple Daily newspaper website showed crowds dancing as music played and clouds of powder being sprayed out which suddenly turned into a ball of fire that swept through the spectators.
“Our initial understanding is this explosion and fire... was caused by the powder spray. It could have been due to the heat of the lights on the stage,” said a spokesman for the New Taipei City fire department.

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The municipality’s deputy mayor said 221 had been hospitalised, with fire officials earlier saying 81 had been seriously injured. Local media reported that 97 people were seriously hurt.

Rockets from Yemen kill Saudi border guard

RIYADH: A Saudi soldier was killed in a rocket attack on the kingdom's border with Yemen, where Riyadh is leading an air war against Iran-backed rebels, the interior ministry said.
The rocket fire in the southern city of Jazan killed Faisal Mohammed Belqasem Maqaadi and wounded another soldier, an interior ministry spokesman said in a statement carried by the official SPA news agency late Saturday.
It did not specify the source of the fire but cross-border shelling by Yemeni rebels has become common since Riyadh launched an air campaign against them in late March.
At least 44 people, civilians and troops, have now lost their lives in shelling and skirmishes along the Saudi side of the border since the campaign began.
Last week, three Saudi soldiers and an Emirati were killed in the border area.

India hands over body of Pakistani 'who crossed border by mistake'

LAHORE: Indian authorities on Friday handed over to Pakistan Rangers the mutilated body of a Pakistani man who was allegedly tortured after he crossed the Indo-Pak border "by mistake" six years ago, his brother said.
Waheed Noor allegedly crossed the border from Azad Kashmir's Rawalakot area unknowingly and was captured by Indian forces for violating border laws.
According to the slain man's brother Zahid Noor, who received his brother's body at Wagah from Indian authorities, Waheed's body bore marks of extreme torture. His feet had been chained and his eyeballs pulled out, said Zahid, describing his brother's body.
Zahid said Waheed had been incarcerated in an Indian jail for the past four years.
Waheed, 38, had filed a petition in an Indian court against his imprisonment and was exonerated twice, according to his brother. However, as the time of his release neared, Indian security agencies tortured him to a point that he died in the jail in Srinagar, his brother claims.
Waheed's body was allegedly handed in a violated state to his family members through Rangers after necessary paperwork.
His family said he had served his due time in jail two years ago but was not allowed to return to Pakistan. They maintained that Waheed was not guilty of any wrongdoing.

Jamaat calls for joint struggle to ‘rid Karachi of fear’

KARACHI: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Senator Sirajul Haq has urged political parties to launch a joint struggle to restore an atmosphere free of fear in Karachi.
“Neither the courts nor the journalists are free in the city. If anyone speaks the truth, he is found dead the next day,” he said while addressing an Iftar party at the JI office here on Saturday.
He said the ongoing heatwave in Karachi had exposed the inability of its hospitals and other institutions to cope with emergency.
Mr Haq deplored that a large number of people had died from heatstroke but no relief had been provided to their families. He appealed to the federal and provincial governments to take care of the families of heatwave victims.
He criticised the government for its failure to ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity and water and urged all parties to sit together to find a solution to the problems.
He said people frequently asked him what would be the fate of the governments. “My answer is: let the federal and the provincial governments complete their tenures because reforms introduced through democratic means will be durable and effective.”
The JI chief said survival of the country depended on democracy and its future was linked to supremacy of law and the Constitution. Therefore, all parties should strive to uphold rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution.
Referring to the anti-crime operation in Karachi, he said action against common man was tolerated but protests were organized when an influential person was targeted.
“A criminal should be treated as a criminal and should not be provided protection by any party. Only then will peace be restored.”

PTI wants murder case against Sindh govt over heatwave deaths

KARACHI: The media adviser to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman, Imran Ismail, on Saturday approached the Civil Lines police station to lodge an FIR against Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, two ministers and others on manslaughter and murder charges in the wake of deaths from the recent heatwave.
In his application submitted to Civil Lines SHO Waqar Ahmed Tanoli, the PTI leader said he wanted to lodge an FIR against the Sindh government for ‘criminal negligence and cold blooded murder’ of innocent citizens of Karachi.
Mr Ismail stated that more than 2,000 people died due to the alleged criminal negligence of the chief minister, local government minister Sharjeel Memon, health minister Jam Mehtab, Karachi Municipal Corporation administrator Saqib Soomro and chairman of the provincial disaster management authority Salman Shah.
The PTI leader said when people had been dying from heatstroke, shortage of water and electricity, the so-called rulers of Sindh were ‘enjoying Iftar parties’ and were ‘clueless’ about the pain and misery of the innocent people and their families.
“They failed to perform their duties and hence were responsible for the murder,” said Mr Ismail. He asked the police to register the FIR under Sections 322 (manslaughter) and 302 (murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code against them.

Kuwait arrests driver of bomber in IS mosque attack

KUWAIT CITY: Kuwaiti police have arrested the driver who transported a suicide bomber to a Shia mosque where he blew himself up, killing 26 and injuring 227 in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group, official media reported.

Authorities have also detained the owner of the house where the bomber was staying, a Kuwaiti national who subscribes to “fundamentalist and deviant ideology”, the KUNA news agency said, citing a statement from the Interior Ministry.

The driver, named Abdulrahman Sabah Eidan Saud, was described as an “illegal resident” born in 1989, who took the bomber to the Al-Imam Al-Sadeq mosque in Kuwait City on Friday, it said.

The arrest came after thousands of Kuwaitis braved scorching summer heat on Saturday to attend the funerals of 18 out of 26 victims of the bombing, claimed by the Islamic State group.

The bodies of the remaining eight victims were flown to Iraq's holy city of Najaf for burial, State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Sabah said.

Draped in Kuwaiti flags, the bodies were borne by mourners chanting religious slogans. Mourners turned out in large numbers despite the Ramazan daylight fast and as temperatures hit 45 degrees Celsius.

HSBC Bank Oman agrees to sell Pakistan business to Meezan Bank

DUBAI: HSBC Bank Oman has agreed to sell its banking business in Pakistan to Meezan Bank , a sharia-compliant Pakistani lender, it said on Sunday.

The deal, which is subject to regulatory and other approvals, is expected to be completed during the second half of 2015, the bank said in a statement.

The business had one branch and gross assets of around $40 million as of March 31, it said.

Also read: HSBC to axe 50,000 jobs in radical overhaul

The sale, at a small discount to the net asset value of the business, will not materially impact the full-year profits of HSBC Bank Oman, it said.

The bank is an indirect 51 percent-owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings.

10 die as bus overturns in Khuzdar

QUETTA: Ten people, women and children among them, were killed and 35 others injured when a bus overturned in Mohabbat Faqir area of the Khuzdar district on Friday.
According to police, the bus carrying a group of pilgrims from Karachi to Shah Noorani shrine met with the accident because of speeding.
“Seven people died and 38 others suffered injuries,” police said.
Rescue teams transferred the dead and the injured to the Ghulam Qadir Civil Hospital in Hub where three people succumbed to their injuries.
According to doctors, some of the critically injured people had been referred to Karachi hospitals.
Police said most of the dead and injured belonged to Dera Ghazi Khan and some other areas of Punjab but they had been living in Karachi’s Shah Faisal Colony to earn their livelihood.
“They hired a bus to travel to the shrine for participating in a festival there,” police said, adding that the driver lost control over the wheel because of speeding.
Bodies were handed over to heirs.

Pakistan, China agree to expedite work on Bahawalpur solar project

LAHORE: Pakistan and China have agreed to gear up work on generating 900 megawatts of electricity in Bahawalpur Solar Power Park, said a report published on Radio Pakistan.

The understanding came during a meeting between Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and a Chinese delegation in Lahore today.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said the solar power park project is part of the China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC).

He said the project will be completed by 2016 while 300 megawatts (MW) of electricity will be generated from the power park by the end of this year.

Read: PM Nawaz inaugurates country's first solar park

Shahbaz also said the Chinese company will be provided all possible facilities for timely completion of the project as per the best international standards.

In the first phase, at least 0.5 million solar panels were installed in three blocks over 500 acres of the solar park land.

Earlier, the infrastructure for the park, including a boundary wall, buildings and roads were constructed while water was taken to the site from a nearby canal. The construction work of the first phase of 100MW had been completed earlier in the year.

Also read: Bahawalpur to have $1.5bn world’s largest solar power plant

The second and third units of the solar park comprise 300MW and 600MW, respectively. The work on these two units had been jointly inaugurated during by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the latter's visit in March.

The second phase is expected to be completed in the beginning of next year followed by work on the third phase.

Heatwave deaths in Karachi: 26-party front sounds death knell for govt

LAHORE: Twenty-six opposition parties observed Friday as protest day against deaths due to heatwave and power loadshedding in the country.
In the provincial capital, activists of various parties including the PTI, PPP, PML-Q, PAT, JI, SIC and the MWM, assembled outside the Lahore Press Club to vent out their anger against the government’s failure to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the people of Karachi suffering from a heatwave which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 citizens.
Traffic remained jammed for more than an hour around Simla Pahari, particularly on Davies Road, during the protest. Carrying placards and banners inscribed with anti-government slogans like “Qatil Hukmaran Namanzoor,” and “Bijli Do, Go Nawaz Go”, the protestors shouted slogans demanding resignation of Federal Minister for Water and Power Khwaja Muhammad Asif.
The protestors, who reached the venue in the form of rallies from various parts of the city, were led by opposition leader in Senate Aitzaz Ahsan, former governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Mahmoodur Rashid, Punjab PPP president Manzoor Wattoo, PAT president Raheeq Abbasi and general secretary Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, Jamaat-i-Islami’s Liaquat Baloch, PML-Q’s Chaudhry Zaheer and others.
Speaking to the protestors, the leaders of the parties blamed the government for the Karachi deaths and demanded that it should quit. Mr Ahsan said the joint opposition protest against the government was the first step towards united struggle against the rulers and the movement would not stop until achieving its goal.
Leading chant of slogans of “sharam karo haya karo”, he also (sarcastically) advised Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to change his (Shahbaz) name on his own as per his promise to save humiliation. A box was kept and the protestors were invited to suggest name of Shahbaz Sharif for failing to meet his promise. (Mr Sharif had during the 2013 election campaign promised to change his name if the PML-N government could not end loadshedding in six months.)

Karachiites get acclimatized to weather conditions

 

KARACHI: Karachiites, experiencing a humid and a partly cloudy Friday with temperature around 35 degree celsius, appeared to have some what acclimatized to the situation.
Meteorological Department officials, were hopeful that there may be drizzle and the cool sea breeze, with 40% to 50% moist content would continue to provide the needed relief to the citizens.
Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre, however, reported another nine deaths due to heatstroke since Thursday night to Friday morning.
Dr. Seemin Jamali told APP that these were elderly individuals who could not bear the brunt of weather intensity.
“Yes we have registered a steady decline in the number of heatstroke cases referred during past two days because of improved weather conditions and rehabilitation facilities across the city,” she said in reply to a question.
Data of other hospitals, from Saturday evening to Friday morning show 124 deaths at Civil Hospital – Karachi, 41 at Sindh Government Qatar Hospital, Orangi Town, 10 at Sindh Government Hospital, Liaqutabad, 23 at Sindh Government, New Karachi,17 at Lyari General Hospital, Two at Sindh Government Hospital, Korangi, Two at KPT Hospital, Keamari, 40 at National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Three at Sindh Government Malir Hospital, 214 deaths at different KMC facilities, 73 at Liaqut National Hospital, 31 at Aga Khan University, 45 at Indus Hospital, 61 at Ziauddin Hospital and 23 at Patel Hospital.
Concerned officials of these hospitals told APP that numbers of heat stroke victims, being brought to their respective facilities, has dwindled a lot during past two days.
They also acknowledged that number of deaths is also on decline, however, mentioned that the burden of mortality in the current situation mainly comprise those with compromised health status or suffering from ailments like diabetes, heart, renal failure or so.
General physicians said people are also coming with different skin conditions that are largely self limiting with due care to keep skin clean and cool through regular wash or wiping of affected part through cold and wet towels.
Humidity has always been an issue that was countered through cool sea breeze in Karachi. “In situations experienced during past few days we urge people to keep their head necessarily covered with wet piece of cloth and avoid direct exposure to sun,” said Dr. Abdul Hakeem.
Members of medical community while largely hopeful that Karachiites have come out of the worst due to improved weather and cut in the loadshedding hours said that they fear surge in the incidence of fever and gastro-enteritis in the metropolis.
“This is because people after breaking their day long fast are seen indulging in heavy intake of chilled liquid, often sherbets, with rich fried items,” elaborated the doctors.
Doctors said combination of fried items with cool water was a lethal combination exposing people to health conditions aggravating their risk to contract infections.
“We as muslims should comply our religious injunctions that asks for restraint in all aspects of our lives with due care towards simplicity.”
Dr. Abdul Hakeem said simple food, mainly comprising fruits and raw vegetable with plain water and natural juices can be of great help to the consumers themselves.

Bilawal puts blame for Karachi deaths on centre

KARACHI: Unmoved by criticism from political parties and other segments of society over poor governance and mismanagement of institutions which aggravated the punishing heatwave in Karachi, the PPP has put the onus on the centre for the that deepened the power crisis and left people dying in the heat.
It was the first time since the heatwave killed more than 1,000 people in Karachi that the PPP chairman summoned Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah to the Bilawal House and inquired about the performance of his government during the recent crisis.
Although headlines hit the television channels that the PPP chairman, taking serious notice of poor governance, had asked the chief minister to improve his performance, a statement issued by the Bilawal House suggested the two leaders were convinced that the provincial government had nothing to do with the crisis.
“The chief minister briefed Bilawal Bhutto Zardari about severe heatwave and loadshedding across the province, which caused deaths of around 1,000 people in Karachi and other parts of the province,” the statement said.
“Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) had established 40 relief camps and heatstroke centres to provide instant relief to those affected. Similar camps have also been established by the PPP, many other political parties, NGOs and others.”
The only directive from the PPP chairman mentioned in the statement was about ensuring visits of provincial ministers to hospitals to monitor the relief work and treatment of the affected people.
Apparently agreeing with the chief minister’s viewpoint the party chief asked him to take up the issue of the power crisis in the province with the federal government.

Sunday likely to be another hottest day for Karachiites

KARACHI (Staff Report) The city would brave yet another blistering hot day today (Sunday) with mercury likely to touch 40 degrees Celsius.
The Met Office said humidity in air was recorded around 70 percent today, adding that temperature is expected to remain between 39 and 40 degree C on Sunday.
The fresh wave of heat and humidity is expected to prevail for a couple of days.
More than 11,000 people have died as a result of days of scorching temperatures in Karachi.
Weather next 24 hrs: Mainly hot and dry weather is expected in most plain areas of the country. However, rain-thundershower is expected at isolated places in Hazara, Malakand, Gujranwala, Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Sargodha divisions, upper FATA, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Workers gear up security arrangements to welcome PAT chief

LAHORE (Dunya News) – Workers of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) have geared up to welcome their leader Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri scheduled to arrive in Pakistan tomorrow, Dunya News reported on Sunday.
As per details, PAT activists have arranged private security for PAT chief after refusal of security from Punjab government. As many as 200 guards of private company would deploy at his security whereas officers would also monitor the whole situation through different means.

The close friends of Tahir-ul-Qadri would move slowly along with his car.

PAT president Raheeq Abbasi stated that the party members have ensured the security of their leader and don’t need the favor from nominated suspect in Model Town vandalism Ranan Sanaullah.

Moreover, a central working committee has summoned a session today at 4 pm in a wake of Tahir-ul-Qadri’s visit.

Karachi heatwave

The director of Pakistan's National Weather Forecasting Centre, Mr Hanif, explained in detail the conditions in Karachi.

"The vortex (low pressure) area that had developed in the North Arabian sea at first appeared in the upper atmosphere," he said.

"A few days later it descended on the surface and was converted into low pressure area.

"It was this low air pressure and high humidity that made the heat unbearable in Karachi and people felt as if it was 49C while the actual temperature was 43C.

"Whereas in the southern part of Pakistan, the recorded temperature was 47C and yet people felt as if it was just around 41C because that part had high air pressure and low humidity and therefore no one died there.

"What has happened in Karachi has been happening increasingly in several locations in South Asia for the past few years but we don't know what causes it and the region has not taken any initiative in understanding it so far."

Indian climatologist Krishnan of IIMT agreed that much remained to be understood.

"We need to find out why these unusual circulations happened at this point of time," he said.

"Of course, people have documented by how much the temperature has increased and so on but a lot more fundamental work needs to be done to understand the dynamics of these heatwaves.

"I have asked my colleagues to look into it."

Scientists in South Asia struggle to understand heatwave

Scientists in India and Pakistan say higher temperatures were just one factor behind the recent heatwaves and other causes have yet to be established.

They say low air pressure, high humidity and an unusually absent wind played key roles in making the heat unbearable but they do not know why such conditions prevailed at this time of the year.
The temperature forecast for the heatwave peak in Karachi last week was 43C, according to meteorologists in Pakistan.
The prediction was accurate but other factors made the heat feel unbearable, they say.
More than 1,000 people have died in Pakistan in the worst heatwave in three decades.
In neighbouring India, the official death figure exceeded 2,000, although reported cases were put at more than 3,000.
"In Karachi, it felt like 49C and that is what we call the heat index," said Muhammad Hanif, director of Pakistan's National Weather Forecasting Centre.
"The heat index was higher than the actual temperature because air pressure was quite low and the humidity was very high in that area.
"The low pressure, which is very unusual in the month of June in that part of Pakistan, totally cut off the sea breeze and made the heat unbearably high."

Salman Khan's 'Sultan' to clash with Mahira Khan's 'Raees' on Eid 2016

It appears that two consecutive Eids will see Mahira Khan clashing with the Dabang Khan of Bollywood, Salman Khan. While Mahira's Bin Roye is set to compete with Salman's Bajrangi Bhai Jaan this year, her Bollywood debut, Raees will be locking horns with his Sultan on Eid in 2016, reported Times of India.

It is interesting to see how the latter clash will be gripping because Raees stars Salman's old rival, Shahrukh Khan, alongside Mahira. Directed by Gunday famed Ali Abbas Zafar and produced by Aditya Chopra, Sultan's shooting will hit the floors this November and is slated for release around Eid 2016.

With Mahira flying in and out of India, the action-thriller, Raees, directed by Rahul Dholakia and produced by Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani and Gauri Khan is still in the process of shooting.

While it is no secret that Mahira is the leading lady for Raees, the heroine for Sultan is yet to be decided.

This will not be the first time the two Khan will be going head to head for the blockbuster mark: A few years ago, King Khan's Don was released with Salman's Jaaneman and well, Don undoubtedly was far more popular.

Although rivals since their fight in 2008, Shahrukh and Salman recently buried the hatchet as Shahrukh attended his sister's wedding and didn't hold back in launching the first look of Salman's Bajrangi Bhaijaan with Aamir Khan.
It is too early to say if the 2016 release would turn their tables again but we are certain Mahira would be no less of a competition for Salman in Pakistan.

Mahesh Bhatt's Hamari Adhuri Kahani to be staged in Karachi

Mohit Suri's Hamari Adhuri Kahani may not have done well at the box office, but that hasn't deterred actor/director Happy Ranajit from picking up its script to adapt for the stage.

The play, which is scheduled to open in Delhi on August 1st, will soon travel to Karachi, revealed Mahesh Bhatt in a tweet:

The story, adapted from Mahesh Bhatt and Suhrita Sengupta's novel All That Could Have Been, follows the tragic love story of rich hotelier Aarav (played by Emraan Hashmi in the film) and florist Vasudha (Vidya Balan) whose romance is cut short by the return of the latter's husband after a long mysterious disappearance.

Mahesh Bhatt's protege Imran Zahid will essay Hashmi's lead role in the play, while Pak-India rock band Raeth will be composing the play's music, Bhatt also revealed.

"We’ve been friends with Imran for a long time and have previously worked on the music of his film, Marksheet," Raeth guitarist Sunny Ghansham told Dawn, "It just clicked Imran that we should plan something together for Pakistan. We were going to accompany him on his last tour, but our Bollywood projects and shows in India held us back. All the people from Pakistan who have gotten a break in India don’t seem to be interested in progressing friendship between the two countries. We earlier brought Kailash Kher ji to Pakistan for a show, so we keep trying our best to help cultural exchange. So Hamari Adhuri Kahani is something special; it will be an experience for us to work with Bhatt sahab and Imran bhai.

"We are composing two songs as music directors," adds Raeth vocalist Wajhi Farooqi, "The film's existing songs will also feature on the soundtrack, since the film revolved around the title track by Mithoon. As you know, we have had hits like ‘Waada’, ‘Tum Meri Hi’, ‘Lamha Tera Mera’ in Zanjeer. Raeth has always been about spreading love and I feel original work has no comparison."

Also read: Review: Why did Mahesh Bhatt's play 'Daddy' disappoint?

Hamari Adhuri Kahani won't be the first time that Mahesh Bhatt's script has been staged in Pakistan. Earlier in April, Daddy was put up as part of NAPA's International Theatre Festival, and a Pak-India collaborative play 'Milne Do' is also in production.

ICC scraps batting powerplay

BRIDGETOWN: ICC took a major step in trying to re­store some balance bet­w­e­en bat and ball in ODIs when on Friday they announced the scrapping of batting powerplay and allowing five fielders outside the 30-yard circle in the last ten overs.
The requirement to have two fielders in catching positions in the first ten overs in ODIs was also done away with, but only two fielders can man the boundaries for the first ten overs, while overs 11 to 40 would have four fielders outside the circle.
It was also decided at the ICC annual conference in Barbados that there would be free hits for all no-balls.
The pros and cons of the DRS as well as the possibility of implementing it in all international matches were also discussed, but there was no change in the stance on the part of the ICC: the decision to use or not use DRS in bilateral series would still be up to the host board.

40kg hashish seized from couple in train

SAHIWAL: Railway police seized 40 kg of hashish from a couple traveling in Farid Express on Thursday evening near Pakpattan Railway Station.
Police said the constables in routine checking of compartments asked the couple to get their luggage checked. The man, however, jumped off the running train. Police got the train stopped and arrested the fleeing man, identified as Salah Muhammad, in a field. Police took the woman, Ameeran Bibi, also into its custody.
Amanullah Susal, railway police inspector, told reporters the couple was a resident of Okara and they got on the train from Havali Lakha Railway Station and were planning to smuggle the drugs to other countries from Karachi. He said they recovered 23kg hashish from Salah bag and 17kg from Ameeran Bibi. — Correspondent

Wars killed 149,000 in Pakistan, Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014

WASHINGTON: Wars in Pakistan and Afghanistan have killed at least 149,000 people between 2001 and 2014, says a recent report by a US think-tank.

The Watson Institute’s Costs of War Project also reports that another 162,000 have been wounded since the US-led offensive that toppled the Taliban government in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks.

The institute is affiliated with the Brown University, a prestigious Ivy League school, and publishes studies focusing on three main areas – development, security, and governance.

The 149,000 deaths include US military members, contractors, as well as at least 26,270 civilians in Afghanistan, and 21,500 in Pakistan.

The figures also include members of the Afghan and Pakistani national police and security forces, and opposition forces, such as the Taliban.

The report points out that war violence, the resulting displacement of individuals from their homes, and destruction of the environment and public services have also contributed to an untold number of indirect deaths from malnutrition, disease, and lack of access to care.

“This report reminds us that the citizens of Afghanistan and Pakistan have … suffered staggering untold and irreparable losses,” says said Catherine Lutz, Brown University Professor and co-director of the project.

“This report is the latest in our ongoing documenting of the significant human and financial consequences that the post 9/11 wars have had on the United States,” she adds.

'Fast and the Furious' Movies: Jason Statham Confirms His Return in 'F8,' Drops Hints on "Great Stuff Ahead"

AFTER Dwayne Johnson took care of business and locked him up in a maximum security cell at the end of ‘Furious 7,’ it seems that no top-security prison can contain the wrath of Jason Statham’s villainous character Deckard Shaw.

In an interview with Access Hollywood, the 47-year-old actor shares that he will return for another round with Vin Diesel’s squad in ‘Furious 8.’

“We’re already talking about doing another one, Part 8,” he said. “I’m a newcomer! I just got invited to the party in this last one so it’s nice to know I’m gonna be doing another…”

Statham strongly believes in the power of the ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise, saying that “they’ve always got something good up their sleeve.” He also prefers to keep mum about details that he might have been told already.

Use SoundCloud to Start Your Own Podcast for Free

All you really need to start a podcast is a microphone or some kind of recording device you can connect to your computer—you could even use a recording app on your mobile. However, more expensive equipment will obviously lead to a better-sounding podcast.

Long-time podcaster Dan Benjamin has a comprehensive guide to some of the kit you can pick up and there are plenty more guides out there. You’re also going to need an audio editor to cut out awkward silences and mix in music: Audacity is one of the best free options out there.

SoundCloud users on a standard free account can upload up to three hours of audio every month, so it’s great for getting your podcast off the ground. If you want more, you can pay $55 per year for six hours of audio a month and $135 per year for unlimited uploads.

Kuwait arrests suspects as suicide bomber kills 27 in Shiite mosque

Health Minister Ali al-Obaidi told Kuwait Television the number of dead had risen to 27 in addition to 227 wounded in the first ever suicide attack on Shiite mosques in the oil-rich emirate.
The toll in the attack, carried out in the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, is one of the largest in Kuwait's history.
The interior ministry said an unspecified number of suspects were held for questioning in connection with the attack that shocked the society of this small oil-rich Gulf state. No details were provided. The funerals of those killed in the attack will take place on Wednesday.
The cabinet announced after an emergency meeting that all security agencies and police have been placed on alert to confront what it called "black terror". "The cabinet stresses that it will take whatever measures necessary to root out this scourge, and declares a relentless all-out confrontation with these terrorists," said a statement after the meeting.