Pakistan News Urdu Fast

The regional parliament of the German state of Brandenburg voted on Thursday to make political parties put an equal number of men and women up for elections. The bill, proposed by the Green party and backed by the Social Democrats and the Left which govern the state in a coalition, makes Brandenburg the first German region to set such a gender rule. It comes into force in the second half of 2020. Women hold just over a third of the seats in the Brandenburg parliament, a shortfall often put down to parties’ failure to put enough women candidates forward. Although Germany has been led by a woman, Chancellor Angela Merkel, for the past 13 years, women are under-represented in politics and business. The share of women in the federal parliament fell from 36.5 percent to 30.8 percent between 2013 and 2017. Arguably the world’s most powerful woman, Merkel has never positioned herself as a campaigning feminist. Gender parity “just seems logical,” she told Die Zeit newspaper on Sunday. “T

Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser has said that the government is taking several steps for the revival of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Speaking at an event arranged by PIA Officers Association in Islamabad, he urged officers of the airline to make endeavours for restoring past glory of the organization. The Speaker said commitment and vision are needed to achieve success.

An outbreak has infected 40 people in the Pacific Northwest and officials say more cases are likely. A measles outbreak has appeared in the United States leaving dozens infected in two states. The outbreak is just the just latest to appear in the United States in recent years despite the fact that the virus was declared “eliminated” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2000. The latest outbreak has affected at least 40 people in Oregon and Washington. A public health emergency in the latter state was declared due to the outbreak, which started at the border of both states, near the Portland area. Measles is a highly contagious virus, and the outbreak is compounded by lower-than-average vaccination rates in the region. Symptoms of measles include a high fever, stuffy nose, red eyes, and rash. In severe cases, brain swelling, hearing loss, or even death can occur. In recent years, areas with high numbers of unvaccinated people have been hit by measles outbreaks.

Indian forces in a fresh act of state terrorism, martyred two Kashmiri youth in Pulwama district of occupied Kashmir on Friday. According to Kashmir Media Service, the youth identified as Shahid Ahmad Baba and Inayat Ahmad were martyred by Indian troops during a cordon and search operation in the Baba Mohalla of Drabgam village in the district. The troops also razed a residential house to rubble on the occasion. Protesting against the operation in the valley, the youth took to the streets. In retaliation, the occupied troops used force to quell the protests, resulting in intense clashes between the demonstrators and the forces who lobbed teargas shells to disperse the demonstrators. The occupying forces have suspended internet services in Pulwama and neighbouring Shopian district following the killings. Last year, a report released by the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service on the occasion of the World Human Rights Day, revealed Indian troops martyred 95,238 innocent Kashmi

New UK guidelines advise giving up placebo pills for women on birth control. Most packages of combination birth control pills contain 21 active pills and 7 placebo pills. But how important is it for women to use those placebo pills or take a break from active pills each month? According to updated guidelines released in the UK by the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), it’s just as safe and effective for women to skip the placebo interval and take combination birth control pills on an extended or continuous basis. The conventional 21/7 cyclic regimen was designed to mimic a natural menstrual cycle. During the placebo interval, women experience a withdrawal bleed that’s similar to a natural period. But there are no health benefits associated with a monthly placebo interval or withdrawal bleed. For many women, there may even be benefits to skipping it. “I think a lot of people get scared that you have to have a period every month, but when you’re on pills, that

A study looked at why some people seem to never gain weight no matter their diet. A new University of Cambridge study may have an answer to the question asked by many frequent dieters: Why can some people eat anything they want and never put on any weight? In a study published Jan. 24 in the PLOS Genetics journal, university researchers in the United Kingdom compared the DNA of 1,622 thin volunteers, 1,985 severely obese people, and a normal-weight control group of 10,433. They found that thin people have genetics on their side. “Using genome-wide genotype data, we show that persistent healthy thinness, similar to severe obesity, is a heritable trait,” the researchers concluded in their “Genetic architecture of human thinness compared to severe obesity” study. Dr. Eddie Fatakhov, a board-certified internist, nutritionist, and co-author of “The Doctors’ Clinic-30 Program” and “Dr. Fat Off – Simple Life-Long Weight-Loss Solutions,” said many studies have compared gene variants from

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says PTI government will put the country on the path of development by prudent economic measures. Addressing Overseas Pakistanis in Oman, he said the government is working on the agenda of change as promised with the nation. The Foreign Minister said that Overseas Pakistanis are playing a vital role in the development of the country by sending remittances through banking channels. Shah Mahmood Qureshi expressed the confidence that we will make Pakistan as prosperous, developed and stable country in five years. Dilating upon the policy of Prime Minister Imran Khan to develop friendly relations with all neighboring countries, he said Pakistan is playing a commendable rule in establishing peace and stability in Afghanistan supporting dialogue between Taliban and the USA. He said we always want good relations with India.

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday resumed hearing petitions against top leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for holding an Iqama (work permit) and ordered the submission of documents against Faryal Talpur in the case. The petitions seek disqualification of PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s sister Faryal, Suhail Anwar Siyal, Manzoor Wassan and other for holding work permits of foreign countries and not disclosing them in their nomination papers. The petitioner’s counsel, Khawaja Shamsul Islam, continued his arguments before the high court bench. “In the disqualification of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Iqama played a major role. He was not only disqualified but was also removed from the PML-N presidency,” maintained Shamsul Islam. He insisted, “The judgment of the top court also applies on Faryal Talpur. How she made assets is an issue which should be investigated.” “The report of the joint investigation team (JIT) in the money laundering case has proved everyth

Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday has directed National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to review Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda’s petition that alleged Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar of embezzlement in development funds. During the hearing, SHC Chief Justice remarked Vawda is a minister and that federal government can also launch inquiry into corruption charges. He also asked NAB prosecutor to inform about the legal proceedings regarding the matter over which, the prosecutor said that the bureau will follow the instructions of the court. It is to be mentioned here that Faisal Vawda had accused Akhtar of misusing funds allocated for development projects in Karachi.

After keeping his engagement, a secret for some time, Spanish tennis champ Rafael Nadal is prepping up to tie the knot with his longtime girlfriend Mary Perello this year. According to reports, the 32-year-old tennis player recently revealed that he had proposed to his girlfriend of 14 years Mery, also known as Xisca, on their romantic getaway to Rome. It was further revealed that the two are prepping up to walk down the aisle this year in autumn on the Spanish isle of Mallorca. The World Number Two had earlier expressed his desire of starting a family with his better half as well saying: “Obviously, I have the intention of forming a family. I love children and I would like my children to do what they like.” Nadal’s ladylove has previously garnered eyeballs as well as she regularly takes a trip down to all his matches to cheer for him.

TV actor Sana Javed has joined Peshawar Zalmi as its Goodwill Ambassador for the fourth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). She will be supporting the Pakistan Super League team during the mega event being played in United Arab Emirates and Pakistan. Peshawar Zalmi chairman Javed Afridi welcomed Sana Javed into the Zalmi family. "Khaani, Romeo Weds Heer" are some of the biggest dramas that Sana has been part of. She is known as one of the most aspiring young artists of Pakistan.

Lahore Qalandars’ 2019 signing, young Hassan Khan is hopeful of a good show by the franchise in the fourth edition of the Pakistan Super League. Talking to Geo, the 20-year old spinning all-rounder said that he’s excited to be part of Lahore Qalandars for PSL 2019 and is looking forward to playing an important role in making his team win the maiden PSL title. “I am excited to be part of this star-studded team,” Hassan said. “Presence of AB de Villiers in the camp has doubled my excitement. I am looking forward to learning a lot from him as he’s among greatest players of modern day cricket,” said Hassan who was traded to Lahore Qalandars from Quetta Gladiators earlier. The ambitious cricketer from Karachi was confident that this year will be Qalandars’ year in PSL. “I am confident that Qalandars will produce good results and will not let the fans down. I want to play an important part in making Qalandars win this tournament and lift the trophy at my home ground, National Stadium

The head of cricket's world body Thursday said the sport's "spirit" is under threat after recent scandals — ranging from racist comments to corruption — that have tarnished its reputation. International Cricket Council chief executive David Richardson, speaking just days after Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed was banned for four games, insisted that tough action will be taken over misconduct and match-fixing. Sarfraz was banned Sunday for making a racial slur against a South African player in Durban and has since returned home from the tour. The sport is also still reeling from the controversy that embroiled Australian players Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft after they were caught tampering the ball during a Test against South Africa and banned. "Regarding player conduct, in recent times we have had some incidents around the world and we have taken necessary steps to ensure that everybody understands the spirit of cricket," Richardson told

PCB chairman Ehsan Mani has lashed out at the International Cricket Council’s decision to charge and ban Sarfraz Ahmed, saying that the governing body’s “bureaucratic process overruled common sense”. On Sunday, Sarfraz was banned for four matches by the ICC for breaching its Anti-Racism code, after the skipper was heard making a racist remark to South Africa’s Andile Phehlukwayo during the second ODI in Durban. According to Mani, the ICC need not have charged Sarfraz once apologies had been publicly made and accepted. Apologies, the PCB chairman said, had been conveyed publicly, at board level, at the manager's level as well as by the player. "So as far as we were concerned, an apology had been tendered and accepted and the only question was whether Sarfraz deserved any punishment," Mani told ESPNcricinfo. "I had already said we should pull Sarfraz out for 2-3 games. I felt very strongly that this has to be a strong message for everyone." But the ICC, Man

The United States and China said their trade war negotiations resulted in major progress as the clock ticks on a March deadline to avert a massive escalation of tariffs that could bruise the global economy. US President Donald Trump hailed "tremendous progress" and welcomed a "beautiful" letter from his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, who said he hoped for further cooperation. Beijing´s official Xinhua news agency said Friday that US and Chinese negotiators made "important progress" during two days of "candid, specific and fruitful" discussions in Washington. Although the latest round of talks ended with positive words, the White House emphasized the two sides still faced the "hard deadline" of March 1 to avoid another sharp escalation in their trade war. Economists say that prospect — which would mean more than doubling US tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods — would be a body blow to the global economy. In a letter from Xi

Fifteen years after its founding, Facebook has made strides toward Mark Zuckerberg´s goal of connecting the world. But it has also made some huge missteps that have turned some of its cheerleaders into vocal detractors. The online social network founded on February 4, 2004 in Zuckerberg´s Harvard University dorm heads into adolescence with the grown-up burdens of being held accountable for its behavior and playing in a world where people may not always have the purest intentions. Facebook has seen unprecedented success by amassing more than 2.3 billion people worldwide who actively use the platform to share updates, obtain information and connect with new people. But it has also been battered by criticism that it was more focused on growth than protecting users or thwarting deception, bullying and harassment. "This is a very powerful company that has created an addictive product that many people are dependent on," said author and analyst Josh Bernoff. "Because of

The head of cricket's world body Thursday said the sport's "spirit" is under threat after recent scandals — ranging from racist comments to corruption — that have tarnished its reputation. International Cricket Council chief executive David Richardson, speaking just days after Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed was banned for four games, insisted that tough action will be taken over misconduct and match-fixing. Sarfraz was banned Sunday for making a racial slur against a South African player in Durban and has since returned home from the tour. The sport is also still reeling from the controversy that embroiled Australian players Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft after they were caught tampering the ball during a Test against South Africa and banned. "Regarding player conduct, in recent times we have had some incidents around the world and we have taken necessary steps to ensure that everybody understands the spirit of cricket," Richardson told

The head of cricket's world body Thursday said the sport's "spirit" is under threat after recent scandals — ranging from racist comments to corruption — that have tarnished its reputation. International Cricket Council chief executive David Richardson, speaking just days after Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed was banned for four games, insisted that tough action will be taken over misconduct and match-fixing. Sarfraz was banned Sunday for making a racial slur against a South African player in Durban and has since returned home from the tour. The sport is also still reeling from the controversy that embroiled Australian players Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft after they were caught tampering the ball during a Test against South Africa and banned. "Regarding player conduct, in recent times we have had some incidents around the world and we have taken necessary steps to ensure that everybody understands the spirit of cricket," Richardson told

PCB chairman Ehsan Mani has lashed out at the International Cricket Council’s decision to charge and ban Sarfraz Ahmed, saying that the governing body’s “bureaucratic process overruled common sense”. On Sunday, Sarfraz was banned for four matches by the ICC for breaching its Anti-Racism code, after the skipper was heard making a racist remark to South Africa’s Andile Phehlukwayo during the second ODI in Durban. According to Mani, the ICC need not have charged Sarfraz once apologies had been publicly made and accepted. Apologies, the PCB chairman said, had been conveyed publicly, at board level, at the manager's level as well as by the player. "So as far as we were concerned, an apology had been tendered and accepted and the only question was whether Sarfraz deserved any punishment," Mani told ESPNcricinfo. "I had already said we should pull Sarfraz out for 2-3 games. I felt very strongly that this has to be a strong message for everyone." But the ICC, Man

Forty years ago, hip-hop was little known outside its birthplace, New York — until the Sugarhill Gang decided to record their rhymes, launching the genre´s rise as a dominant cultural and commercial force. The result was the group´s 1979 smash "Rapper´s Delight" — which is credited as the commercial start of an unforgettable era in music. Once an underground style centered on live performance in New York´s Bronx borough, rap and hip-hop are the most influential styles in contemporary music today. To mark hip-hop´s big anniversary, a pop-up museum has been established in the US capital through mid-February. "I never thought it would reach those proportions," said Grandmaster Caz, an icon of early hip hop who wrote parts of "Rapper´s Delight." "Back in the day, we were discouraged from doing hip-hop — nobody respected it." But the track found runaway success, becoming a global sensation and selling millions of copies. In 2011, "Rapper

Music superstars Beyonce and Jay-Z are offering fans a chance to win free tickets for life to their concerts in exchange for adopting a vegan diet for a month. The “Lemonade” singer announced the contest to her 123 million Instagram followers late on Wednesday in support of the Greenprint Project, which encourages people to reduce their environmental footprint by eating plant-based meals. Beyonce pledged to eat plant-based breakfasts and go meatless on Mondays, while Jay-Z is promising to eat two plant-based meals a day. The project is the brainchild of Beyonce’s personal trainer, Marco Borges, who published his “The Greenprint” book in December explaining his plant-based diet and exercise plan. The singer and her spouse wrote the introduction to the book. A study in the journal Science last June concluded that avoiding meat and dairy products would be the biggest way to reduce the environmental impact on the planet because of reduced irrigation of farmland, animal emissions, foo

The United Kingdom Home Office has declared Pakistan as a country where the state of security has significantly improved in 2018 as compared to previous years. The Home Office report on Pakistan’s situation praised determination of security forces, especially Pakistan Army, saying that the military-led operations against militants were successful and the overall security situation improved compared to previous years. The report has been based on Home Office’s own assessment as well as information gathered from media and various country reports. Between 2014 and 2017, the total number of violence-related fatalities declined by over 73%, from 7,655 fatalities in 2014 to 2,057 in 2017; the number of fatalities in the first 3 quarters of 2018 (930) compared to the same period in 2017 (1,585) decreased by 41%, said the report. The western provinces bordering Afghanistan, Balochistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), remained the areas where most militant and sectaria

Tens of millions of Americans braved Arctic-like temperatures on Thursday as low minus 49 Celsius that paralysed the US Midwest and were blamed for at least 21 deaths. Warmer-than-normal weather was on the way, but that offered little comfort to vulnerable populations such as the homeless and elderly enduring cold that caused frostbite in minutes and made being outside potentially deadly. Officials across multiple states linked numerous deaths to the frigid air. The death toll rose from a previous 12 after at least nine more people in Chicago were reported to have died from cold-related injuries, according to Stathis Poulakidas, a doctor at the city’s John H Stroger Jr Hospital. Poulakidas, a trauma specialist, said the hospital had seen about 25 frostbite victims this week. He said the most severe cases risked having fingers and toes amputated. Among those believed to have died from the cold was University of Iowa student Gerard Belz. The eighteen-year-old was found unresponsive

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Thursday rejected the opposition's demand to form a judicial commission over the tragic Sahiwal extrajudicial killings. Speaking to the press after a one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Punjab chief minister said that there is no immediate need for a judicial commission over the incident – a demand recently put forwarded by Punjab Opposition leader Hamza Shehbaz. "The probe is going with full transparency. We will see if there are issues in future. We have already taken action against five personnel," he said. The chief minister said that disciplinary action is being taken against two suspended officials. "Action is being taken against every person responsible for the incident. I will take a briefing on the issue in two-day time," he said. The chief minister announced to give a sum of Rs20 million to the family of the deceased.

A Pakistani teacher won Cambridge University’s Dedicated Teacher Awards 2019. Ahmed Saya, a resident of Karachi, was among six finalists shortlisted for the Cambridge University Press award, the university website said on Thursday. We are pleased to announce the winner of the 2019 Dedicated Teacher Award goes to... Ahmed Saya from Cordoba School for A Level in Pakistan. Well done to Ahmed and all our finalists! #MyDedicatedTeacher http://bit.ly/1dedicatedteacher … “It was a tough decision for the judges but they have now decided on the six finalists for the Dedicated Teacher Awards 2019,” Cambridge Education tweeted. The winner was chosen through a voting process. Saya has won a trip to Cambridge, UK, as well as CPD opportunities for their school. We are pleased to announce the winner of the 2019 Dedicated Teacher Award goes to... Ahmed Saya from Cordoba School for A Level in Pakistan. Well done to Ahmed and all our finalists! #MyDedicatedTeacher https://t.co/WjTjwod9i5 pic.tw

In a nightmarish example of parental medical care gone horribly wrong, a month-old infant ended up with much of his intestines outside of his body after his father poked a hole in his stomach. The dad made the small incision because the boy’s belly was bulging unusually. He believed that the hole would allow the “gas to come out,” according to local news media. Instead, out from the tiny hole came the kid’s innards. Luckily, the father didn’t try to fix this one on his own and instead rushed the infant off to the hospital. By the time the child arrived at the Ningbo Women and Children Hosptial about 40 or 50 centimeters of his intestines had been squeezed out of his belly button and was starting to turn black. Fortunately, after an hour of surgery, doctors were able to put his guts back into his abdomen. He is expected to make a full recovery. The head of the surgery department told reporters that this was the first time he had ever seen anything like this, blaming the kid’s pare

Thousands of Swedes are having microchips implanted into their bodies so that they don't need to carry key cards, IDs, and even train tickets. About 3,000 people in Sweden have inserted a microchip — which is as tiny as a grain of rice — under their skin over the past three years, Agence France-Presse reported. The technology was first used in the country in 2015. The implants have already helped replace the need for a host of daily necessities. Ulrika Celsing's microchip, which is in her hand, has replaced her gym card and office key card. When she enters her workplace, the 28-year-old simply waves her hand near a small box and types in a code before the doors open, AFP said. Last year, the state-owned SJ rail line started scanning the hands of passengers with biometric chips to collect their train fare while on board. See how it works around the 2:24 mark in the video below. There is no technological reason the chips couldn't also be used to buy things just like a c

Qatar plans to issue work visa to around 100,000 Pakistanis in different sectors, Radio Pakistan reported. Speaking to media in Sindh’s Matiari district, Consul General of Qatar Mishal M Al Ansari said the two sides were working on bolstering bilateral ties and his country was interested in deliberating over Pakistan’s offer of increased opportunities. He added that Doha had already opened visa centres in Karachi and Islamabad to ease the process for workers and professionals. The Arab country had inaugurated its second visa facilitation centre in December 2018 in a bid to ensure swift visa processing as well as promote transparency and eventually improve labour rights in Qatar. Pakistan is the third country after Sri Lanka and Bangladesh where Qatar has opened the visa facilitation centre. The development regarding 100,000 jobs came after a meeting between Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdul Rahman al Thani in September 2018

The European Parliament voted to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate interim president of Venezuela and urged EU leaders to do the same. The resolution, voted on Thursday, called on the EU leadership to adopt “a strong, unified stance,” and recognize Guaido as the “only legitimate” interim president of the South American nation until new elections are held to “restore democracy.” The MEPs also pledged “full support” for Venezuela’s opposition-controlled parliament, the National Assembly, urging the EU states to “accredit” the envoys appointed by the opposition. The document was adopted with 439 votes to 104, with 88 MEPs abstaining. Guaido thanked the European Parliament for the vote. “We made a big step in our fight for democracy,” he wrote on Twitter. European Union Foreign Affairs Chief Federica Mogherini had earlier promised“full support” for the National Assembly. On Saturday, Germany, France and Spain threatened to recognize Guaido as the nation’s int

Have you ever used Google+, the social network run by Google? Do you know anyone who has used Google+? Did you even know Google+ was a real thing while you were spending time posting photos of your latest awesome-looking dinner on Facebook? Well, regardless of your knowledge of, or exposure to Google+, the long, slow end to the social network is nearly complete. After saying in December it would soon shut down Google+, late Wednesday, Google said Google+ will close up shop for personal accounts for good on April 2. Anyone still using Google+ to create new pages, events and profiles should probably get to it if they want to have any presence on the social network over the next two months. Google said that people won’t be able to do such things starting Feb. 4. All consumer accounts and pages will be closed on April 2, and Google will then also delete all comments made by Google+ users from the service. Ah, but all is not completely lost for Google+. If you work for a company that i

Nokia was late to the Android market but it looks like they aren't holding back. With the 8.1, Nokia aims to bring a mid-range phone with high-end qualities. Boasting a top notch processor and an up-to-date Android Pie for Rs35,000, how does the phone hold up? Key specs 6.18" Pure Display Qualcomm Snapdragon - 710 3500 mAh battery (2 day battery life) 20MP front camera 12MP/13MP dual rear camera with ZEISS Optics and OIS Design Unboxing the Nokia 8.1, the design immediately wins a few points. The dual-toned anodised metal frame results in a top tier design while the phone has some weight to it which adds to the overall luxurious feel. The phone's sturdy yet chic build promises to be durable, as one would expect from a Nokia phone, and looks stylish while getting the job done. The smooth metal frame around the edge of the phone not only provides a new look but houses all you basic ports and keys. The 8.1 has a 3.0 charging port at the bottom adjacent to a 3.5m

The government on Thursday has reduced petroleum product prices for the month of February 2019. According to notification issued on Monday, petrol price has been slashed by 59 paisa per litre, whereas the price of High Speed Diesel remained the same. The prices of kerosene oil and light diesel oil has also been reduced by Rs73 paisas and Rs25 respectively. So the new price of HSD will be Rs106.68 per liter, SKO Rs82.25 per liter and LDO Rs75 per liter. The new price of petrol will be Rs90.38 per liter.

Who will be inside the suit remains unknown but The Batman has a release date. Warner Bros. on Wednesday announced that Matt Reeves’ stand-alone Batman film will hit theaters in June 2021. Ben Affleck was previously set to star in the film following his performances in Justice League and Batman v. Superman, but a new Caped Crusader is to be cast. Affleck, who was at one point also to direct The Batman, tweeted that he’s excited to see Reeves’ vision of the film “come to life.” Warner Bros. also dated the next Suicide Squad film, to be written by James Gunn, for 2021. The studio set an adaption of Stephen King’s The Shining sequel, Doctor Sleep, for November this year, and Robert Zemeckis’ The Witches for October 2020.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Thursday that while the crisis is not over for Pakistan as yet, the country will come out of this difficult period soon. Speaking at the launch ceremony of the 'Pakistan Banao Certificates' — aimed at attracting investment from eight million overseas Pakistanis to help strengthen the national economy, according to Radio Pakistan — the premier said that his government had no idea how bad the country's economic situation was until they came into power. "We weren't expecting anything good at all. However, we did not have any idea how bad the situation is going to be until we actually saw it with our own eyes," he said. "The easiest way to bring relief was to go to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), like previous governments kept doing, and the other route was to go to friendly nations and ask them to lend assistance to us. That is what we did, because we needed long-term solutions," Prime Minister Khan added.

Mainly cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country. However, more rain-thunderstorm (with light snowfall over the hills) is expected in Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and its adjoining hilly areas during the next 24 hours, the Met Office reported on Thursday. Foggy conditions are likely in plain areas of the Punjab and upper Sindh. During last 24 hours, temperature in Bagrote, Gupis and Skardu was recorded at -10°C, Kalam, Astore -07°C, Malamjabba -05°C, Parachinar, Kalat, Hunza -04°C, Drosh, Rawalakot -02°C, Chitral and Murree -01°C.

Pakistan has conducted another successful launch of the tactical ballistic missile Nasr as part of the Army Strategic Forces Command training exercise, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday. The exercise included a training test on January 24, when the short-range surface-to-surface missile was fired in a salvo of four missiles, and single shots on January 28 an 31. According to the ISPR, the second phase of this exercise was aimed at testing the "extreme in-flight manoeuvrability" of the missile. The missile is capable of defeating — by assured penetration — "any currently available BMD [Ballistic Missile Defence] system in our neighbourhood or any other system under procurement [or] development", the military's media wing said. The launch was witnessed by Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, the director general strategic plans division, the commander of army strategic forces command, the chairman o

State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Tariq Bajwa on Thursday announced a 25 basis point increase in the policy rate, bringing it to 10.25 per cent effective from Feb 1. Bajwa explained that the Monetary Policy Committee had noted that the impact of the government's stabilisation measures were "gradually unfolding', and that consumer confidence had improved amidst reduced economic uncertainty. "But the fiscal deficit is yet to show signs of consolidation despite a reduction in Public Sector Development Programme spending," the SBP chief said. "A marked shift in the pattern of government borrowing from scheduled banks entails inflationary concerns," he explained, adding: "Even as stabilisation measures gradually work through the economy, underlying inflationary pressures persist." Bajwa said that although a marginal increase in exports and healthy growth in remittances had helped contain the current account deficit, "it still remains

Venezuelan authorities have detained five foreign journalists covering the standoff with opposition forces seeking the ouster of President Nicolas Maduro. Two others, from Chile, were deported as the crisis spilled over to hit journalists covering the oil-rich but economically crippled nation's latest taste of crisis. Two of the detained are from France, two from Colombia and one from Spain. The latter three worked for the Spanish national news agency Efe and had all come from Colombia to cover the growing turmoil. Their detention was reported by the Efe bureau chief in Venezuela, Nelida Fernandez. Two French journalists working for a TV programme called Quotidien were detained on Tuesday while filming outside the presidential palace, diplomatic sources said. A local producer working with them was also detained. Two Chilean TV journalists were detained on Tuesday night near the presidential palace and held for 14 hours before being expelled from the country, Chilean Foreign