MQM Quaid?s posters removed from Mukka Chowk, Jinnah Ground

KARACHI: Posters of MQM’s Qauid have been removed from Mukka Chowk and Jinnah Ground. Pictures broadcast on television showed torn posters lying on the ground in these areas. 

The situation in the Azizababd area remains peaceful and MQM workers have not gathered in the area. 

When contacted MQM leaders did not comment nor did they say who had removed these pictures.  Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) leaders said this was a reaction from the people but the party’s workers were not involved.

In Hyderabad, posters of the party’s Quaid have been removed from Latifabad 6,7,8 areas.

The development comes in the wake of MQM leader Farooq Sattar announcing that the party was distancing itself from provocative statements made by the MQM Quaid and his assuming control of the party.

Sattar further said that decisions regarding the MQM would now be made from Pakistan.

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Balochistan responded to Indian PM statements: FO

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office spokesman,  Mohammed Nafees Zakaria during the weekly news briefing said the people of Balochistan had responded to statements of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi by protesting across the province.

"The Indian PM's statement was an attempt to divert attention from the Kashmir issue," Mr. Zakaria said. 

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The spokesman said the situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) was being continuously monitored and human rights issues were also being highlighted by the Pakistani media.  

He added that over 80 Kashmiris had been martyred and 7,000 injured by Indian security forces.

Mr. Zakaraia further said that John Kerry had expressed his desire to visit Pakistan, however, a schedule for his visit had not been received.

Speaking on the SAARC conference, the spokesman said Pakistan was hopeful for this conference.

When asked about statements made by the MQMs Quaid, the spokesman replied that Pakistan’s Interior Ministry had contacted the British Home Office several times over this issue.

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Jennifer Lawrence ranked world's highest-paid actress for second year

"Hunger Games" star Jennifer Lawrence on Tuesday topped a Forbes magazine list of the world's highest-paid actress for the second straight year, earning some $46 million, followed by Melissa McCarthy.

Lawrence, 26, took the top spot largely through a slice of the profits from the final movie in the "Hunger Games" franchise, as well as a big upfront fee for her forthcoming space adventure movie "Passengers," Forbes said.

Yet Lawrence's estimated payday was likely well below that for Hollywood's leading men, Forbes said, despite the actress sparking a debate about the gender pay gap last year. She declared she was "finished being adorable" when it came to negotiating better deals for herself.

Lawrence's 2016 earnings dropped 11.5 percent from her 2015 total of $52 million. Forbes will release its list of the world's highest-paid actors on Thursday. Last year Robert Downey Jr. topped the list with an estimated $80 million.

Neither however came close to pop star Taylor Swift, who was named the top earning celebrity of 2016 earlier this year, pulling in an estimated $170 million from record sales and her world tour.

McCarthy took home $33 million in earnings, up $10 million from 2015 in part from her payday for the controversial female reboot of "Ghostbusters."

It was the biggest annual paycheck to date for the star of television comedy "Mike and Molly." McCarthy, 45, also launched a clothing line for sizes 4 to 28 after becoming frustrated at the outfits available for larger women.

Scarlett Johansson of "Captain America: Civil War" was third at $25 million, down nearly 30 percent from 2015.

Together, the world’s 10 highest-paid actresses tallied a combined $205 million between June 1, 2015 and June 1, 2016, before management fees and taxes, Forbes said.

The estimates include earnings from movies, TV and endorsements from cosmetic and other companies. Bollywood star Deepika Padukone is the only newcomer on the list.

The rest of the top 10 2016 highest-paid actresses are:

4. Jennifer Aniston - $21 million

5. Fan Bingbing - $17 million

6. Charlize Theron - $16.5 million

7. Amy Adams - $13.5 million

8. Julia Roberts - $12 million

9. Mila Kunis - $11 million

10. Deepika Padukone - $10 million

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Final of PSL second edition to be played in Lahore: Sethi

LONDON: Pakistan Super League (PSL) Chairman Najam Sethi has said that preparations for the second edition of PSL are complete, the final of which will be played in Lahore.

Sethi said the world's leading cricketers will be participating in the league, of which the final will be played in Lahore on March 8 or 9, 2017.

Pakistan has not staged major international cricket events on its home grounds â€" barring a few limited over matches against lowly ranked Zimbabwe last year â€" since terrorists attacks targeted the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009.

Earlier in July, Sri Lanka’s fast bowler Lasith Malinga and South African all-rounder Albie Morkel joined the players’ roster for the second edition of the league, ahead of the players’ draft.

A statement by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that both the players have agreed to be the part of players’ draft which will be held in October this year.

Malinga and Morkel joined former Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum and current England ODI and T20 captain Eoin Morgan in having signed up for PSL.

Malinga, who captained Sri Lanka to the 2014 ICC World T20 trophy, had to withdraw from last year’s player draft because of an injury.

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Over 1000 Americans revelers ended up in Canada illegally

PORT HURON: Hundreds of Americans illegally ended up in Canada after inclement weather forced the participants of the river party down the river into Canadian territory.

About 1,500 Americans taking part in the annual Port Huron Float Down party last weekend on the St. Clair river which runs between US state of Michigan and Canadian province of Ontario. The revelers had to be rescued by coast guard personnel after strong rain and winds sent them across the border into Canada.

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Kareena Kapoor to handle a movie and pregnancy together

Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan has been the highlight of many stories being published recently. While few have been on the work front, most of them have been related to her pregnancy and family life.

For a while now, fans of this pretty actress have been waiting for her film Veere Di Wedding in which she stars with Sonam Kapoor. However, since the news of her pregnancy came out, there have been many rumors claiming that she will walk out of the movie.

However, fans of this actress can rest assured as Kareena herself has rubbished these rumors. She has cleared her stance by informing her fans that she will shoot for the movie till mid-October, after which she will be taking a break from shoot and will continue post-delivery.

Talking about her shoot schedule, she said, "We are going to shoot Veere Di Wedding for a couple of days in October. Then I will pick up the film post-delivery. I am definitely doing the film. We are working on how and when we can shoot," Indian media reported.

Producer Rhea Kapoor too clarified on Kareena’s exit stating, "The report is completely untrue. Kareena is very much a part of Veere Di Wedding and will be shooting for us in October and early next year," according to reports which circulated news websites in India.

Veere Di Wedding also stars Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania and is directed by Shashanka Ghosh. It is produced by Rhea Kapoor under her father Anil Kapoor's banner in association with Balaji Motion Pictures.

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Clinton ready for ?wacky? debate with Trump

WASHINGTON: White House hopeful Hillary Clinton suggested Monday that rival Donald Trump could be an unpredictable adversary in upcoming presidential debates, saying she is girding for "wacky stuff."

With the first debate scheduled to take place a month from now near New York, Clinton joked about what to expect from her unorthodox opponent.

"You?ve got to be prepared for wacky stuff. I?m planning on drawing off my experiences from elementary school," she said on late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live."

Trump has suggested he might not attend all of the three scheduled debates.

But he is trailing badly in the polls and the highly watched events offer a much-needed chance to break through with undecided voters.

For a first-time debater, this cauldron of presidential political theatre could present a daunting challenge.

Trump has thrown a series of barbs at Clinton, describing her as "crooked" and making opaque suggestions lately that she has unspecified health problems.

Host Kimmel asked Clinton to open a jar of pickles to show she was in good health and also took her pulse as she brushed off a scandal over emails sent from a private server when she was secretary of state.

After Clinton told Kimmel that she used FaceTime video phone calls to visit with her grandchildren, he teasingly demanded whether she had ever considered using FaceTime instead of email.

Clinton also hit back at Trump?s highly contested assertion that she and President Barack Obama created the so-called Daesh (Islamic State group).

"Who would have guessed this audience would be so enthusiastic about the co-founder of ISIS?" Kimmel asked, after a rousing welcome for Clinton from the crowd.

Clinton responded that she thought "when Trump talks the way he talks, it actually helps the terrorists."

"I do feel sometimes like this campaign has entered into an alternative universe," she said.

"I have to sort of step into the alternative reality and, you know, answer questions about am I alive?" she said incredulously, referring to the health rumours.

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