US-led strikes pound Islamic State in Iraq, kill 250 fighters

WASHINGTON: US-led coalition aircraft waged a series of deadly strikes against Islamic State around the city of Falluja on Wednesday, US officials told Reuters, with one citing a preliminary estimate of at least 250 suspected fighters killed and at least 40 vehicles destroyed.

If the figures are confirmed, the strikes would be among the most deadly ever against the extremist group.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the operation and noted preliminary estimates can change. The strikes, which the officials said took place south of the city, where civilians have also been displaced, are just the latest battlefield setback suffered by Islamic State in its self-proclaimed "caliphate" of Iraq and Syria.

The group´s territorial losses are not diminishing concerns about its intent and ability to strike abroad though. Turkey pointed the finger at Islamic State on Wednesday for a triple suicide bombing and gun attack that killed 41 people at Istanbul´s main airport.

CIA chief John Brennan told a forum in Washington the attack bore the hallmarks of Islamic State "depravity" and acknowledged there was a long road ahead battling the group, particularly its ability to incite attacks.

"We´ve made, I think, some significant progress, along with our coalition partners, in Syria and Iraq, where most of the ISIS members are resident right now," Brennan said.

"But ISIS´ ability to continue to propagate its narrative, as well as to incite and carry out these attacks I think we still have a ways to go before we´re able to say that we have made some significant progress against them. "

On the battlefield, the US-led campaign against Islamic State has moved up a gear in recent weeks, with the government declaring victory over Islamic State in Falluja.

An alliance of militias have also launched a major offensive against the militant group in the city of Manbij in northern Syria.

Still, in a reminder of the back-and-forth nature of the war, US-backed Syrian rebels were pushed back from the outskirts of an Islamic State-held town on the border with Iraq and a nearby air base on Wednesday after the extremists mounted a counter- attack, two rebel sources said.

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Four Afghans among 18 arrested in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: At least 18 suspects including four Aghans were arrested on Thursday during a search operation by security forces.

The operation took place at Khana Dak, Ghouri Town, and nearby areas.

A large amount of weapons, drugs, motorcycle and currency was recovered from the suspects, police said.

The suspects have been transferred to Koral police station for interrogation.

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Four Afghans among 18 arrested in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: At least 18 suspects including four Aghans were arrested on Thursday during a search operation by security forces.

The operation took place at Khana Dak, Ghouri Town, and nearby areas.

A large amount of weapons, drugs, motorcycle and currency was recovered from the suspects, police said.

The suspects have been transferred to Koral police station for interrogation.

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Family members record statement in Sabri murder case

KARACHI: Investigation officials have recorded the statements of relatives and family members in the murder case of Qawwal Amjad Sabri, who was gunned down last week in the port city.

Officials close to the investigation told Geo News on Wednesday that in their latest statement, the relatives did not mention any threats to Sabri's life, which they had hinted on in their initial statement recorded immediately after the murder.

The officials said that the financial matters and accounts of the slain Qawwal were being closely investigated. Officials said police have sought Sabri’s financial details from concerned departments.

They further said that Sabri’s manager would be investigated upon his return from Umrah.

The officials added that the assistance of the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) has also been sought in the murder investigation.

Amjad Sabri, 45, was one of South Asia's most popular singers of the 'qawwali', Sufi devotional music that dates back more than 700 years.

Amjad Sabri was the son of renowned qawwal of the 1960’s, Ghulam Farid Sabri, and the nephew of qawwali icon Maqbool Sabri who passed away in 2011.

Last week, Sabri was traveling with an associate when two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on his car.

He was shot multiple times and pronounced dead by medics at a local hospital where he was taken after the attack.

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Family members record statement in Sabri murder case

KARACHI: Investigation officials have recorded the statements of relatives and family members in the murder case of Qawwal Amjad Sabri, who was gunned down last week in the port city.

Officials close to the investigation told Geo News on Wednesday that in their latest statement, the relatives did not mention any threats to Sabri's life, which they had hinted on in their initial statement recorded immediately after the murder.

The officials said that the financial matters and accounts of the slain Qawwal were being closely investigated. Officials said police have sought Sabri?s financial details from concerned departments.

They further said that Sabri?s manager would be investigated upon his return from Umrah.

The officials added that the assistance of the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) has also been sought in the murder investigation.

Amjad Sabri, 45, was one of South Asia's most popular singers of the 'qawwali', Sufi devotional music that dates back more than 700 years.

Amjad Sabri was the son of renowned qawwal of the 1960?s, Ghulam Farid Sabri, and the nephew of qawwali icon Maqbool Sabri who passed away in 2011.

Last week, Sabri was traveling with an associate when two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on his car.

He was shot multiple times and pronounced dead by medics at a local hospital where he was taken after the attack.

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Panama leaks: PPP to file NAB reference against PM Nawaz after Eid

ISLAMABAD: The opposition Pakistan People?s Party (PPP) has decided to file a reference in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over the Panama leaks allegations.

The reference will be filed in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) after Eidul Fitr.

PPP legal team has collected important evidence and tasked Latif Khosa to prepare the reference.

The PPP on June 27, also filed a reference with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) seeking the disqualification of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for no longer being Sadiq (truthful) and Amin (just).

The PPP submitted a 1,000-page reference against the prime minister, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Hamza Shahbaz, Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and Captain (R) Muhammad Safdar accusing them of hiding their assets.

The reference requested the commission to take action against the prime minister in accordance with Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution. The decision to file the reference was taken in the PPP meeting chaired by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari last week.

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Malala Yousafzai joins millionaire club

LONDON: Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenage education activist who survived a near-fatal attack by the Taliban, and her family have become millionaires in under four years due to sales of a book about her life and appearances on the global speaker circuit.

Yousafzai, 18, the youngest person to win the Nobel peace prize, shot to international fame after emerging defiant from the assassination attempt on a school bus in Swat valley in October 2012 to continue her fight for girls' rights.

Yousafzai, who received medical treatment in Britain where she now lives, is in constant demand globally, charging $152,000 per speech compared with Desmond Tutu's reported $85,000, according to US-based Institute for Policy Studies.

Her memoir, "I Am Malala", published in 2013, has sold 287,170 copies in Britain with a total value of about 2.2 million pounds ($3 million) and over 1.8 million copies worldwide, according to a spokesman from Nielsen Book Research.

While Yousafzai has set up the Malala Fund to support girls' education projects in developing countries, her family also established a company, Salarzai Ltd, in 2013 to protect the rights to her life story.

Publically available information shows that the London-based company, owned by Yousafzai, her father Ziauddin Yousafzai, and her mother, Toor Pekai, has a net worth of 1.87 million pounds in August 2015, up nearly 65 percent from the previous year.

"Since the publication of Malala's book, Malala and her family have donated more than $1 million to charities, mostly for education-focused projects across the world including Pakistan," Yousafzai's family said in a statement emailed to the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Earlier this year, Malala urged world leaders at a conference in London to commit $1.4 billion to give Syrian refugee children access to education.

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Malala Yousafzai joins millionaire club

LONDON: Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenage education activist who survived a near-fatal attack by the Taliban, and her family have become millionaires in under four years due to sales of a book about her life and appearances on the global speaker circuit.

Yousafzai, 18, the youngest person to win the Nobel peace prize, shot to international fame after emerging defiant from the assassination attempt on a school bus in Swat valley in October 2012 to continue her fight for girls' rights.

Yousafzai, who received medical treatment in Britain where she now lives, is in constant demand globally, charging $152,000 per speech compared with Desmond Tutu's reported $85,000, according to US-based Institute for Policy Studies.

Her memoir, "I Am Malala", published in 2013, has sold 287,170 copies in Britain with a total value of about 2.2 million pounds ($3 million) and over 1.8 million copies worldwide, according to a spokesman from Nielsen Book Research.

While Yousafzai has set up the Malala Fund to support girls' education projects in developing countries, her family also established a company, Salarzai Ltd, in 2013 to protect the rights to her life story.

Publically available information shows that the London-based company, owned by Yousafzai, her father Ziauddin Yousafzai, and her mother, Toor Pekai, has a net worth of 1.87 million pounds in August 2015, up nearly 65 percent from the previous year.

"Since the publication of Malala's book, Malala and her family have donated more than $1 million to charities, mostly for education-focused projects across the world including Pakistan," Yousafzai's family said in a statement emailed to the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Earlier this year, Malala urged world leaders at a conference in London to commit $1.4 billion to give Syrian refugee children access to education.

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New York's JFK airport terminal briefly evacuated over suspicious package

NEW YORK: Police temporarily evacuated a terminal at New York City's John F Kennedy International Airport on Wednesday as they investigated a report of a suspicious package, authorities said.

A Homeland Security K-9 unit was checking into an unattended bag at about 8:30 am EDT (1230 GMT) in the departure area of Terminal Five, said Joe Pentangelo, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees the airport.

Pentangelo said the bomb squad had responded and roadways to the area were temporarily closed.

The package was cleared and the terminal resumed normal operations, the spokesman said.

The evacuation came a day after suicide bombers blew themselves up at the main airport in Istanbul, Turkey, killing at least 41 people and injuring hundreds.

After the attack, the Port Authority deployed armed, high-visibility patrols at the three main airports in the New York metropolitan region.

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Petrol prices likely to increase before Eid

ISLAMABAD: The prices of petroleum products are likely to increase soon as Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has recommended an increase from July 1, sources said on Wednesday.

Sources in the regulatory body told Geo News that a summary in this regard has been submitted to the Ministry of Petroleum.

According to the summary, OGRA has proposed an increase of Rs1.93 per litre on petrol, Rs3.75 per litre on diesel, Rs5.38 per litre on light diesel oil, Rs8.62 per litre on kerosene oil and Rs3.53 per litre on HOBC.

However, a final decision in this regard would be taken by the Ministry of Finance after consultation with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

On April 1, the government had raised the tariffs of petroleum products.

The price of petrol and diesel was increased by Rs1.50 and Rs1.40 respectively.

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Obama offers US help after Istanbul attacks: White House

 

OTTAWA: President Barack Obama on Wednesday offered US security assistance to Turkey after 41 people were killed in a suicide assault on Istanbul airport, the latest in a string of attacks to rock the US ally.

Obama telephoned President Recep Tayyip Erdogan "to express his deep condolences on behalf of the American people," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters travelling with the US leader to a summit in Ottawa.

"In the context of that call, he will offer any support that the Turks can benefit from as they conduct this investigation and take steps to further strengthen the security situation in their country."

"Any information that we obtain that could be useful to the Turkish investigation, we will certainly share that information," he added.

Earnest did not indicate whether Turkey had officially sought US assistance following the latest attack.

The United States earlier condemned as "heinous" Tuesday's bombing and gun assault on Istanbul's Ataturk Airport and pledged steadfast support for its NATO ally.

The assault, which comes at the start of Turkey's crucial tourist season, was the latest in a wave of attacks in Istanbul and the capital Ankara blamed it on Daesh (Islamic State) militants or Kurdish rebels.

Earnest, like Turkey, pointed the finger of blame at Daesh for the newest atrocity.

"We've made important progress in Iraq and in Syria against ISIL," he said using an alternate acronym for the group.

"But we continue to be concerned by the ability that ISIL has to carry out these kind of terrorist attacks, not just in Iraq and Syria but in other places."

Earnest said Obama would have a chance to meet with Erdogan "in some setting" when he travels to Warsaw for the upcoming NATO summit on July 8-9.

He said the attacks were certain to be raised Wednesday in Ottawa, where Obama joins Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto for a so-called "Three Amigos" summit.

"This is something that will certainly be on the minds of all three North American leaders," Earnest said.

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Afghan refugee registration deadline extended by six months

PESHAWAR: Pakistan has extended by six months a deadline for Afghan refugees to register with the government, a refugee official said on Wednesday, a day before the deadline was set to expire.

Pakistan has the world's second largest refugee population, with more than 1.5 million registered, and about a million unregistered, refugees from Afghanistan, most of whom fled the Soviet occupation of their country in the 1980s.

The number of Afghans voluntarily returning home has plunged this year as violence worsens in Afghanistan, where the government and its US allies are fighting a stubborn Taliban insurgency.

"The prime minister has approved another six-month extension in the deadline," Imran Zeb Khan, the chief commissioner for Afghan Refugees, told Reuters in an interview.

"But Pakistan can't ensure that these refugees will return. That cannot happen without support from Afghanistan and the international community which need to create the right conditions for their repatriation."

Khan said Pakistan would hold a tripartite meeting with Afghanistan and the United Nations refugee agency on July 19 to plan the way forward.

"We don't suggest any aggressive campaign against Afghan refugees, but we have been hosting them for the past 35 years and it is time they should go back to their country," Khyber Pakhtunkhwa information minister Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani said.

Unregistered Afghans had become a major security issue for the government, he added.

There are only about 100,000 registered refugees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

About 6,000 Afghans have chosen to return home from Pakistan in 2016, well below last year's figure of 58,211, the United Nations' refugee agency has said.

Registration cards allowing a temporary legal stay for Afghan refugees last received a six-month extension after they expired in December 2015.

Many Afghans have lived in Pakistan for decades and contribute significantly to its labour force.

But Afghan refugee camps have become "safe havens for terrorists", Pakistani foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz said last week.

Pakistani federal minister for states and frontier regions Abdul Qadir Baloch also warned that Pakistan was not willing to host Afghan refugees indefinitely.

Visiting Pakistan last week, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said he had made the case to the government for extending the June 30 deadline.

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Amir at his best for England series: Shane Warne

ISLAMABAD: Former Australian leg spinner Shane Warne feels Pakistani pacer Mohammad Amir is a fine bowler saying he will be at his best for the series against England.

Amir will likely be resuming his Test career at Lord?s on July 14 where he played his last Test match nearly six years ago in 2010.

Warne said Amir will get a good reception on the England tour.

Amir made his domestic comeback playing for Omar Associates in the Grade II Patron?s Trophy on March 13, 2015. He took a wicket in his first comeback over.

On August 19, 2015, Amir was declared completely free to play all forms of cricket from September 2, 2015. He made his return to international cricket on January 15 this year in a Twenty20 match against New Zealand.

In February2016, Amir took a hat-trick in a Pakistan Super League match for Karachi Kings.

Speaking about the series, he said Pakistan and England both are great bowling sides.

?Their top order batting will be tested by opposition bowlers,? he said while talking to a private news channel.

He said the weather has been bad in England so the ball will nip around and seam so it will tough for the batsmen.

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Amir at his best for England series: Shane Warne

ISLAMABAD: Former Australian leg spinner Shane Warne feels Pakistani pacer Mohammad Amir is a fine bowler saying he will be at his best for the series against England.

Amir will likely be resuming his Test career at Lord’s on July 14 where he played his last Test match nearly six years ago in 2010.

Warne said Amir will get a good reception on the England tour.

Amir made his domestic comeback playing for Omar Associates in the Grade II Patron’s Trophy on March 13, 2015. He took a wicket in his first comeback over.

On August 19, 2015, Amir was declared completely free to play all forms of cricket from September 2, 2015. He made his return to international cricket on January 15 this year in a Twenty20 match against New Zealand.

In February2016, Amir took a hat-trick in a Pakistan Super League match for Karachi Kings.

Speaking about the series, he said Pakistan and England both are great bowling sides.

“Their top order batting will be tested by opposition bowlers,” he said while talking to a private news channel.

He said the weather has been bad in England so the ball will nip around and seam so it will tough for the batsmen.

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Four FC personnel gunned down in Quetta

QUETTA: Four policemen were killed in two separate attacks in the provincial capital of Balochistan Quetta, officials said Wednesday.

In the first incident, a group of criminals ambushed a police party on the Double road, as they were preparing to launch an arrest raid.

The police driver and another officer were injured and died from their wounds before they could be transferred to hospital.

In a second attack, two gunmen on a motorbike opened fire at a pair of police officers in a minority Hazara community area as they were going to buy food for their evening meal. Both policemen died at the scene.

Manzoor Sarwar, a senior police official in the city, said that authorities were investigating the attacks.

Another police official Zahoor Afridi confirmed the causalities.

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India shying away from dialogue to avoid Kashmir issue: Sartaj

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is not shying away from dialogue with India and Indian Prime Minister?s logic in this regard is beyond perception, Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said.

Commenting on the recent statement of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a television interview the Advisor said it was India who does not want to come to dialogue and not Pakistan.

Indian Prime Minister on Monday pointed to the ?multiple power centres? in Pakistan to explain New Delhi?s difficulty in drawing a ?Lakshman Rekha? (red line) for talks with Pakistan.

?The first thing is that with whom in Pakistan will you decide the ?Lakshman Rekha? -- with the elected government or with other actors? So India will have to be alert and conscious all the time. There should not be any laxity and negligence,? Modi said.

?Actually, it is India which is shying away as it knows that it has to discuss the Kashmir and other issues on the dialogue table,? Sartaj Aziz said in an interview to a private news channel on Tuesday.

Sartaj Aziz said, ?We have a format of comprehensive and composite dialogue with India that includes issues like people to people contact visa and fishermen issue trade and economic cooperation and issues like Kashmir, Siachen, and Sir Creek.?

He said the Sir Creek relates to Navies of both the countries and Siachen relates to the Armies.

?Indian Army also has stakes in Siachen and when last time both the governments had reached an agreement it was the Indian Army who had rejected it.?

He said there is also a mechanism of Prime Minister to Prime Minister, Foreign Minister to Foreign Minister and Foreign Secretary to Foreign Secretary level contacts and discussion.

India should come forward and should not escape from the dialogue, he said adding that since many years it is India who is not interested in starting the dialogue process.

He said as far as the matter of the establishment is concerned all over the world the governments consult their establishments.

?We also have a mechanism of consultation?, said Aziz.

Sartaj Aziz said the excuse made by the Indian Prime Minister that with whom India should talk in Pakistan was beyond perception.

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India shying away from dialogue to avoid Kashmir issue: Sartaj

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is not shying away from dialogue with India and Indian Prime Minister’s logic in this regard is beyond perception, Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said.

Commenting on the recent statement of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a television interview the Advisor said it was India who does not want to come to dialogue and not Pakistan.

Indian Prime Minister on Monday pointed to the ‘multiple power centres’ in Pakistan to explain New Delhi’s difficulty in drawing a “Lakshman Rekha” (red line) for talks with Pakistan.

“The first thing is that with whom in Pakistan will you decide the ‘Lakshman Rekha’ -- with the elected government or with other actors? So India will have to be alert and conscious all the time. There should not be any laxity and negligence,” Modi said.

“Actually, it is India which is shying away as it knows that it has to discuss the Kashmir and other issues on the dialogue table,” Sartaj Aziz said in an interview to a private news channel on Tuesday.

Sartaj Aziz said, “We have a format of comprehensive and composite dialogue with India that includes issues like people to people contact visa and fishermen issue trade and economic cooperation and issues like Kashmir, Siachen, and Sir Creek.”

He said the Sir Creek relates to Navies of both the countries and Siachen relates to the Armies.

“Indian Army also has stakes in Siachen and when last time both the governments had reached an agreement it was the Indian Army who had rejected it.”

He said there is also a mechanism of Prime Minister to Prime Minister, Foreign Minister to Foreign Minister and Foreign Secretary to Foreign Secretary level contacts and discussion.

India should come forward and should not escape from the dialogue, he said adding that since many years it is India who is not interested in starting the dialogue process.

He said as far as the matter of the establishment is concerned all over the world the governments consult their establishments.

“We also have a mechanism of consultation”, said Aziz.

Sartaj Aziz said the excuse made by the Indian Prime Minister that with whom India should talk in Pakistan was beyond perception.

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Traffic jam clogs roads as rain hits Karachi

KARACHI: Massive traffic jams were witnessed in the city as rainwater inundated the streets on Wednesday.

The city’s main thoroughfares Shahra-e-Faisal, M A Jinnah Road and I I Chundrigar Road suffered bumber to bumper traffic.

Over 30 mm of rain was recorded at Shahra-e-Faisal , the met department said in a statement.

Several areas suffered power outages as over 250 K-Electric feeders tripped.

Earlier today, the Met department issued a warning that Karachi could experience urban flooding owing to the monsoon rains. 

According to the Met department, the monsoon season will last till July and August. The Met department also stated that during monsoon rains, Karachi could be a victim of urban flooding. 

"Karachi is likely to receive a good amount of rainfall from the monsoon season," said the director of Met department. 

He further said that the city was likely to receive two to three heavy rains in July and August. The Met department also said that the current heat wave would simmer down and the temperature would cool a bit due to the rain. 

The city received its first spell of heavy rainfall on Tuesday. At least four people were killed in rain related incidents in the city.

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Traffic jam clogs roads as rain hits Karachi

KARACHI: Massive traffic jams were witnessed in the city as rainwater inundated the streets on Wednesday.

The city?s main thoroughfares Shahra-e-Faisal, M A Jinnah Road and I I Chundrigar Road suffered bumber to bumper traffic.

Over 30 mm of rain was recorded at Shahra-e-Faisal , the met department said in a statement.

Several areas suffered power outages as over 250 K-Electric feeders tripped.

Earlier today, the Met department issued a warning that Karachi could experience urban flooding owing to the monsoon rains. 

According to the Met department, the monsoon season will last till July and August. The Met department also stated that during monsoon rains, Karachi could be a victim of urban flooding. 

"Karachi is likely to receive a good amount of rainfall from the monsoon season," said the director of Met department. 

He further said that the city was likely to receive two to three heavy rains in July and August. The Met department also said that the current heat wave would simmer down and the temperature would cool a bit due to the rain. 

The city received its first spell of heavy rainfall on Tuesday. At least four people were killed in rain related incidents in the city.

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Peon at government office shoots staff in Karachi

ISLAMABAD: A peon at a government office opened fire injuring a staff member.

The accused Tanveer shot at section officer Abdur Razzaq. The incident occurred at the Gilgit Baltistan section of the Press and Information Department.

Police transferred the accused to Aapara police station.

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Peon at government office shoots staff in Karachi

ISLAMABAD: A peon at a government office opened fire injuring a staff member.

The accused Tanveer shot at section officer Abdur Razzaq. The incident occurred at the Gilgit Baltistan section of the Press and Information Department.

Police transferred the accused to Aapara police station.

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Afghanistan?s first ever all female coding school challenges gender barriers

The only all-female coding school in Afghanistan is aiming to bridge gender gaps in a society which considers tough work like programming men?s expertise.

Code to Inspire is the first ever only female coding school in Afghanistan. Established in Herat in the year 2015 the school now looks to expand in Mazar-e Sharif.

 Its founder and CEO Fereshteh Forough hails from a refugee family that has moved to Iran after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 1996. Fareshteh and her family returned once the Taliban regime has been overthrown. She received her bachelor?s degree in computer science from Herat University and a Master?s degree from Technical University of Berlin in Germany.

Upon returning to her country, Forough opened the first ever all female coding school in Afghanistan.

?When we started recruiting girls in Herat in the fall of 2015, we wanted to show them their value and empower them to break down traditional barriers,? said Forough while speaking to the News Deeply, a website which focuses on under reported stories.

Forough is one of the few women to join Afghanistan?s rising technology sector. Her coding school trains 50 girls and teaches elementary web design, along with mobile app development.

The school was among the few recipients of the Google Rise Award this year.

A survey by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) found that around 85 percent of Afghan women have been deprived of formal education; however most of these women have easy access to mobile phones. The aim of the school was to make these women self reliant and to increase their chances of finding employment.

Code to Inspire has the government?s support but it is otherwise considered improper for women to study and work with men. This was one reason why Forough decided to open an all women school where she would be able to provide the students a safe learning environment.

Forough believes that this school would eventually become these women?s stairway to success, opening up doors to jobs in the tech market which allows individuals to work from home.

A few years ago music, internet and television had been banned in Afghanistan but in the recent past the tech industry has been growing.

The coding program at Code to Inspire is free of charge and easily accessible. Whatever skills the women learn at school can be used in Afghanistan?s growing tech job markets.

 ?We are going to empower girls online without being worried of physical and geographical distances,? said Forough.

 ?Coding can help me be my own boss,? she added.

 Forough aims to empower more women that way, and wishes to expand CTI.

?Sometimes as an outsider, it can be scary to think about programming and coding as potential careers,? Forough said when asked for her advice to girls who want to learn to code.

 ?But don?t be afraid of challenges. They make you stronger and give you perspective in life. And once you learn, you will see how coding is so empowering.?

 

 

 

Read More

Afghanistan?s first ever all female coding school challenges gender barriers

The only all-female coding school in Afghanistan is aiming to bridge gender gaps in a society which considers tough work like programming men?s expertise.

Code to Inspire is the first ever only female coding school in Afghanistan. Established in Herat in the year 2015 the school now looks to expand in Mazar-e Sharif.

 Its founder and CEO Fereshteh Forough hails from a refugee family that has moved to Iran after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 1996. Fareshteh and her family returned once the Taliban regime has been overthrown. She received her bachelor?s degree in computer science from Herat University and a Master?s degree from Technical University of Berlin in Germany.

Upon returning to her country, Forough opened the first ever all female coding school in Afghanistan.

?When we started recruiting girls in Herat in the fall of 2015, we wanted to show them their value and empower them to break down traditional barriers,? said Forough while speaking to the News Deeply, a website which focuses on under reported stories.

Forough is one of the few women to join Afghanistan?s rising technology sector. Her coding school trains 50 girls and teaches elementary web design, along with mobile app development.

The school was among the few recipients of the Google Rise Award this year.

A survey by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) found that around 85 percent of Afghan women have been deprived of formal education; however most of these women have easy access to mobile phones. The aim of the school was to make these women self reliant and to increase their chances of finding employment.

Code to Inspire has the government?s support but it is otherwise considered improper for women to study and work with men. This was one reason why Forough decided to open an all women school where she would be able to provide the students a safe learning environment.

Forough believes that this school would eventually become these women?s stairway to success, opening up doors to jobs in the tech market which allows individuals to work from home.

A few years ago music, internet and television had been banned in Afghanistan but in the recent past the tech industry has been growing.

The coding program at Code to Inspire is free of charge and easily accessible. Whatever skills the women learn at school can be used in Afghanistan?s growing tech job markets.

 ?We are going to empower girls online without being worried of physical and geographical distances,? said Forough.

 ?Coding can help me be my own boss,? she added.

 Forough aims to empower more women that way, and wishes to expand CTI.

?Sometimes as an outsider, it can be scary to think about programming and coding as potential careers,? Forough said when asked for her advice to girls who want to learn to code.

 ?But don?t be afraid of challenges. They make you stronger and give you perspective in life. And once you learn, you will see how coding is so empowering.?

 

 

 

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Ikea recalls millions of dressers in US, Canada after child deaths

Washington: Furniture giant Ikea said Tuesday it was recalling more than 35 million chests and dressers in North America after six children died in the United States when they tipped over.

The recall by the Swedish company, the world´s largest furniture seller, affects 29 million units sold in the United States and 6.6 million units sold in Canada, according to Ikea and safety regulators in the two countries.

The recalled items are "unstable if they are not properly anchored to the wall, posing a tip-over and entrapment hazard that can result in death or injuries to children," Ikea North America said in a statement.

"If you have, or think you have, one of these drawers... please act immediately," said Elliot Kaye, head of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). "We´re imploring you."

Speaking at a news conference in Washington, Kaye illustrated the tip-over danger by having personnel from his office use a 28-pound (13-kilo) dummy dressed as a young girl hang from the top drawers of Malm furniture. 

The empty bureau tumbled down on the dummy in repeated demonstrations.

Eight million of the recalled items in the United States are Malm model chests and dressers, and 21 million additional children´s and adult chests and dressers. All were manufactured between 2002 and June 2016.

In Canada, where no fatal incidents have occurred, the authorities recalled dozens of models sold since 1993.

Customers in both countries can get full refunds, pick up wall-anchoring kits at nearby stores or have Ikea personnel come to attach wall anchors at no charge.

Owners were urged to immediately discontinue use of the affected products if not anchored to walls, and to move them to rooms not accessible by children.

US victims include a two-year-old boy killed when a six-drawer chest tipped over on him in February 2014, a 23-month-old boy who died when he was trapped under a three-drawer chest in June 2014, and a 22-month-old boy crushed to death by a six-drawer chest in February this year, the CPSC said.

In the three fatal incidents involving Malm furniture made of particleboard or fiberboard none of the items were anchored to a wall, the CPSC said. Seventeen others were injured in similar incidents.

Ikea also reported 41 incidents of tip-overs involving non-Malm furniture in the United States, resulting in deaths in 1989, 2002 and 2007. Nineteen more children were injured, the CPSC said.

At company headquarters in Stockholm, Ikea group spokeswoman Kajsa Johansson told AFP that the drawers "meet all mandatory stability requirements on all markets where sold," adding that the bureaus were "safe when anchored to the wall" as instructed.

Ikea has sold more than 147 million chests of drawers over the past 13 years, just over half of them 78 million of the Malm brand, the company said.

Prices for the items range between $70 and $200, depending on the model.

In 2015, Ikea launched a campaign in the United States and Canada to encourage owners of Malm furniture to anchor the pieces to walls.

 

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Ikea recalls millions of dressers in US, Canada after child deaths

Washington: Furniture giant Ikea said Tuesday it was recalling more than 35 million chests and dressers in North America after six children died in the United States when they tipped over.

The recall by the Swedish company, the world´s largest furniture seller, affects 29 million units sold in the United States and 6.6 million units sold in Canada, according to Ikea and safety regulators in the two countries.

The recalled items are "unstable if they are not properly anchored to the wall, posing a tip-over and entrapment hazard that can result in death or injuries to children," Ikea North America said in a statement.

"If you have, or think you have, one of these drawers... please act immediately," said Elliot Kaye, head of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). "We´re imploring you."

Speaking at a news conference in Washington, Kaye illustrated the tip-over danger by having personnel from his office use a 28-pound (13-kilo) dummy dressed as a young girl hang from the top drawers of Malm furniture. 

The empty bureau tumbled down on the dummy in repeated demonstrations.

Eight million of the recalled items in the United States are Malm model chests and dressers, and 21 million additional children´s and adult chests and dressers. All were manufactured between 2002 and June 2016.

In Canada, where no fatal incidents have occurred, the authorities recalled dozens of models sold since 1993.

Customers in both countries can get full refunds, pick up wall-anchoring kits at nearby stores or have Ikea personnel come to attach wall anchors at no charge.

Owners were urged to immediately discontinue use of the affected products if not anchored to walls, and to move them to rooms not accessible by children.

US victims include a two-year-old boy killed when a six-drawer chest tipped over on him in February 2014, a 23-month-old boy who died when he was trapped under a three-drawer chest in June 2014, and a 22-month-old boy crushed to death by a six-drawer chest in February this year, the CPSC said.

In the three fatal incidents involving Malm furniture made of particleboard or fiberboard none of the items were anchored to a wall, the CPSC said. Seventeen others were injured in similar incidents.

Ikea also reported 41 incidents of tip-overs involving non-Malm furniture in the United States, resulting in deaths in 1989, 2002 and 2007. Nineteen more children were injured, the CPSC said.

At company headquarters in Stockholm, Ikea group spokeswoman Kajsa Johansson told AFP that the drawers "meet all mandatory stability requirements on all markets where sold," adding that the bureaus were "safe when anchored to the wall" as instructed.

Ikea has sold more than 147 million chests of drawers over the past 13 years, just over half of them 78 million of the Malm brand, the company said.

Prices for the items range between $70 and $200, depending on the model.

In 2015, Ikea launched a campaign in the United States and Canada to encourage owners of Malm furniture to anchor the pieces to walls.

 

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Firebomb attack outside Australian mosque

SYDNEY: A firebomb attack outside an Australian mosque while worshippers were at prayer was condemned Wednesday by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, with one Islamic leader calling it a "hate crime".

No one was injured in Tuesday night´s blast which destroyed a car parked outside a mosque and Islamic college in the Perth suburb of Thornlie.

"It is believed an accelerant was used to start the fire," Western Australian police said in a statement, adding that three other vehicles were damaged in the incident.

"Anti-Islamic graffiti was located spray painted on a wall associated with the college, near the damaged vehicles."

The mosque´s Yahya Adel Ibrahim said the community in Perth had been visited "by hate" but would not retaliate by "hating and playing blame games".

"This, undoubtedly is a criminal act of hate, but it is the act of a person or group not the greater whole," he said on Facebook.

"Despite what just transpired, everyone stayed to finish their prayers, refusing to give into the terror that had just occurred."

Anti-Islam sentiment became more prominent in Australia last year as concerns mounted over homegrown extremism and citizens travelling to Iraq and Syria to support jihadist groups.

But Turnbull, who faces a general election on Saturday, said Australia had a fundamental foundation of mutual respect.

"I deplore and I cannot condemn strongly enough any attacks of that kind," he told radio station 6PR.

Australian Islamic College executive principal Abdullah Khan said while the attack came as a shock, he had been reassured by the support from the community.

At the last national census in 2011, Muslims made up less than three percent of the overall Australian population of 24 million, with the overwhelming majority of the country identifying as Christian.

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Hrithik Roshan escaped the Istanbul airport blast by few hours

Bollywood Actor Hrithik Roshan was at the Istanbul airport hours before a suicide bomb blast which killed 36 and injured 150 occurred.

In a tweet to his fans the 42-year-old actor, "missed connecting flight at Istanbul and were stuck at airport. Next flight was next day, but took economy and flew out earlier."

missed connecting flight at Istanbul n wer stuck at airport next flight ws next day,but took economy n flew out earlier. #Prayers4istanbul

? Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) June 28, 2016

The actor was on a vacation to Spain and Africa with his two sons and was returning to India via Turkey, Indian media reported.

He had earlier tweeted that he was visiting Africa.

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75 percent militants on terror watch in Karachi untraceable

ISLAMABAD: Almost 75 percent militants on terror watch list for their alleged links with over a dozen proscribed organisations are untraceable in Karachi, some of them might be behind the recent wave of violence in the metropolis.

Official documents pointed out that the Sindh counterterrorism forces were unable to trace 142 out of 190 militants, who were listed to category ‘A*’, a term used for terrorists put on exceptional risk or high risk. The shocking revelations came a week after assassination of famous artist Amjad Sabri following kidnapping of Chief Justice Sindh High Court (SHC)’s son.

Six most wanted militants belonging to proscribed organizations were shifted to Holland, Bangladesh, Dubai, Ethiopia, United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan, revealed official documents exclusively obtained by Geo News.

Interviews with police officers and documents prepared by Sindh counterterrorism forces further revealed that “there is a strong possibility that some of these militants must have planned to execute recent terror attacks in Karachi.” 

Several militants languishing in jails

Around 38 militants listed to Schedule IV, an index issued by the government of high risk terrorists, are in various jails of Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Punjab.

Two militants from Sipah-e-Muhammad Pakistan (SMP) are in jails, three militants belong to Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), two had affiliation with Hizb-ul-Mujahiddin (HuM) and Jundallah, seven each from Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), eight militants belong to Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and one suspicious militant was put in Hyderabad Jail by the police.

Waliullah Awan, who is a said to be a ring leader of TTP, was picked up by Pakistan Rangers Sindh and presently he is detained in an unknown Detention Center of Pakistan Rangers Sindh, revealed the officials.

Sindh police put 27 militants of LeJ on watch list, 56 of SSP, 22 of SMP, two of Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM), six of Pakistan Sunni Tehreek (PST), one each belong to Khudamul Islam (KuI), Lyari Gangwar and Majlis-e-Wahadat-ul-Muslameen (MWM), eight of HuM, 15 of JeM, three of Jundallah, two of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and 19 terrorists belonged to TTP.

Many wanted terrorists escaped jail

Six ‘Jihadis’ who returned from Afghanistan are wanted by Sindh counterterrorism forces. They are also in search of 16 suspicious terrorists who went missing since years.

Mohammad Ilyas is at top of the list of these militants. Ilyas was playing a lead role for Afghan Taliban in Konduz, according to a secret letter sent by Department of Defense, Joint Task Force Guantanamo, available with Geo News.

He has been involved in recruitment techniques of the Tableeghi Jamaat and looking after its operations in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He was later transferred to Pakistan from Guantanamo and put in Karachi jail in 2004, read official documents. But he managed to flee from jail eight years back and has not been found since then.

The Sindh police was also searching for Zulqarnain Haider Naqvi who is founder of SMP and involved in many cases of sectarian killings and terrorism in Karachi and Punjab. Police sources said he shifted to Holland while government of Sindh also announced head money as well.

Hassan Raza Kashmiri alias Nana also wanted by the Sindh police, is among top leaders of SMP. But police sources said Hassan Raza Kashmiri fled away to Ethiopia on Passport No: CM-1792879 through an Emirates Airline flight in 2009. Provincial security forces, in a letter, requested Ministry of Interior for strict action against him.  

Mamoon alias Bangali and Mohammad Anees, who are wanted to law enforcement agencies, fled away to Bangladesh. Both had returned from Afghanistan where they had been fighting against American forces. Counterterrorism forces asked Home Department Sindh to initiate the necessary action against them.

Jundallah Pakistan Commander Dr Akram is wanted by the Sindh police. He was arrested in Karachi soon after he returned from Afghanistan in 2001 and later managed to escape jail and flee to the United Arab Emirates. He returned to Pakistan was arrested, tried and convicted by an anti-terrorism court and sentenced but he managed to escape jail for a second time.

Central leader of Lyari Gangwar Shahid Bikik alias Bhai went underground after he was found involved in the blast and murder case of Bilal Sheikh (Coordinator of Bilawal House Karachi). An arrested accused namely Faraz alias Laddo alias Baloch disclosed during the course of interrogation that Shahid Bikik had provided him money to hire target killer Noman Kiala for killing, revealed official documents.

Senior commander of SSP Ghulab Khan, who was master planner of various sectarian attacks, shifted to Dubai. Gul Muhammad and Faisal of Muhajir Qaumi Moment, who were involved various crimes, shifted to unknown places.

Sohail Ahmed, Public Relations Officer Sindh Police, however, did not comment over the issue.

Former Inspector General Police Sindh Afzal Shigri believed that the police have to trace out sleeper cells these militants, who went underground. “It seems to be a failure of police as we fail to form a strong structure of law enforcing agencies,” he told Geo News. 

â€"Originally published in The News

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Oil prices rise with recovering global markets

Singapore: Oil prices extended gains in Asia on Wednesday, tracking a recovery in equity markets as leaders look to temper fears over the effects of Britain´s shock EU exit, while traders bet on measures to negate any turmoil.

Asian stocks and currencies have recovered this week after Friday´s global sell-off, as speculation swirls that authorities will inject fresh stimulus into financial markets.

Seoul on Tuesday unveiled a $17 billion plan to support South Korea´s already fragile economy, while news emerged Wednesday that Japan´s leaders were holding talks on how to contain any tailwind from the Brexit crisis.

Also Tuesday European Central Bank boss Marion Draghi said central banks should aim to align monetary policies to mitigate "destabilising spillovers".

European leaders who gathered in Brussels for a two-day meeting urged Britain to act quickly to resolve the political and economic mayhem unleashed by the vote.

At about 0630 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate rose 37 cents, or 0.77 percent, to $48.22 and Brent added 32 cents, or 0.66 percent, to $48.90.

"The primary driver of the oil market is probably Brexit-related volatility at the moment," Ric Spooner, chief analyst at CMC Markets in Sydney, told Bloomberg News.

Analysts said crude prices were also supported by worries about a potential strike in Norway´s oil industry, which could affect almost a fifth of the country´s output.

And a slight weakening of the greenback, as traders shift out of safe haven investments, also helped as it made dollar-priced crude less expensive for buyers holding other currencies, in turn boosting demand.

Official data on US commercial crude stockpiles, which is used to gauge demand in the world´s top oil consumer, is due later Wednesday.

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First baby with Zika-related birth defect microcephaly born in Florida

A Haitian woman in Florida has delivered the first baby in the state born with the birth defect microcephaly caused by the Zika virus, Florida's health department said on Tuesday.

The mother contracted the mosquito-borne virus in her home country and traveled to Florida to give birth, state officials said in statements.

If confirmed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the child will be the fifth in the United States to be born with a birth defect linked with travel to a country in which Zika is circulating.

Another four pregnant women lost their babies as a result of travel-related Zika infections, according to the latest CDC report as of June 16. So far, there have not been any cases of Zika in the United States arising from local mosquito transmission.

The CDC's U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry does not specify the states where those cases occurred. Cases of babies with microcephaly previously were reported in Hawaii and New Jersey.

US health officials have concluded that Zika infections in pregnant women can cause microcephaly, a birth defect marked by unusually small head size and potentially severe developmental problems.

The US cases so far involve women who contracted the virus outside the United States in areas with active Zika outbreaks, or were infected through unprotected sex with an infected partner.

Health experts expect local transmission to occur in the United States as mosquito season gets underway, particularly in states such as Florida and Texas.

Florida Governor Rick Scott signed an executive order last week that allocated about $26 million for Zika preparation and response in the state. But in Washington on Tuesday, funding to battle the virus failed to advance in the US Senate.

The connection between Zika and microcephaly first came to light last fall in Brazil, which has now confirmed more than 1,400 cases of microcephaly that it considers to be related to Zika infections in the mothers.

The World Health Organisation has said there is strong scientific consensus that Zika also can cause Guillain-Barre, a rare neurological syndrome that causes temporary paralysis in adults.

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Pakistan FO condemns Istanbul Ataturk airport attack

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday released a statement strongly condemning the recent attack on the Istanbul's Ataturk international airport. 

"We offer our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families and to the brotherly people and government of Turkey. We also pray for the speediest and fullest recovery of those wounded in this despicable attack," read the statement from the Foreign Office's website. 

"Pakistan reiterates its condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations. Like always, we stand in strong solidarity with the fraternal people of Turkey in their fight against terrorism. There is no doubt that this scourge would be decisively defeated with Turkey's iron will and unshakeable resolve," read the statement further.

#istanbulattack pic.twitter.com/5Q5ZOLSAYt

? SpokespersonMOFA (@ForeignOfficePk) June 29, 2016

On Tuesday night, three assailants attacked the Ataturk international airport. Multiple shots were fired and a bomb blast also took place, killing 36 people while more than 140 were injured. 

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that the attack appeared to have been from Daesh (Islamic State) militants.

Most attacks in Turkey in the recent years have been caused by either Daesh (Islamic State) (or Kurdish separatists. So far, neither have claimed responsibility for the attacks.  

 

 

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Pakistan FO condemns Istanbul Ataturk airport attack

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday released a statement strongly condemning the recent attack on the Istanbul's Ataturk international airport. 

"We offer our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families and to the brotherly people and government of Turkey. We also pray for the speediest and fullest recovery of those wounded in this despicable attack," read the statement from the Foreign Office's website. 

"Pakistan reiterates its condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations. Like always, we stand in strong solidarity with the fraternal people of Turkey in their fight against terrorism. There is no doubt that this scourge would be decisively defeated with Turkey's iron will and unshakeable resolve," read the statement further.

#istanbulattack pic.twitter.com/5Q5ZOLSAYt

â€" SpokespersonMOFA (@ForeignOfficePk) June 29, 2016

On Tuesday night, three assailants attacked the Ataturk international airport. Multiple shots were fired and a bomb blast also took place, killing 36 people while more than 140 were injured. 

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that the attack appeared to have been from Daesh (Islamic State) militants.

Most attacks in Turkey in the recent years have been caused by either Daesh (Islamic State) (or Kurdish separatists. So far, neither have claimed responsibility for the attacks.  

 

 

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Rain kills four in Karachi

KARACHI: At least four people were killed in rain related incidents in the city.

Meanwhile five people including women were killed in Tharparkar when a lightning bolt struck them.

The first series of monsoon rains in Karachi started on Tuesday afternoon, with many areas receiving light and heavy rain cooling down a recent spell of hot and humid weather in the city.

Heavy rainfall was witnessed in SITE area, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Malir, Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, Liaqatabad, Baldia, Maripur, Super Highway and several areas, while some other areas saw slight drizzle.

The Met Office has also forecast heavy rain on Wednesday and Thursday.

Many parts of the port city plunged into darkness with the first drops of rain.

According to K-Electric, the city?s sole power supplier, more than 150 of 1400 electricity feeders in Karachi tripped as soon as the rainfall began.

A K-Electric spokesman said their personnel were busy trying to restore power to the affected areas as soon as possible.

Apart from Karachi the other cities of Sindh, inclining Tando Allahyar, Umarkot Chachro, Tando Muhammad Khan, Hyderabad, Sukkur, also experienced the rainfall.

According to DG Met Office, the intermittent rain will continue in the city till Wednesday.. Earlier pre-monsoon rains had slashed several parts of the country.

The city was expecting a sigh of relief after scorching temperatures since the last three days. The mercury shot to 40 degrees which severely affecting the lives of citizens in the city.

 

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Rain kills four in Karachi

KARACHI: At least four people were killed in rain related incidents in the city.

Meanwhile five people including women were killed in Tharparkar when a lightning bolt struck them.

The first series of monsoon rains in Karachi started on Tuesday afternoon, with many areas receiving light and heavy rain cooling down a recent spell of hot and humid weather in the city.

Heavy rainfall was witnessed in SITE area, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Malir, Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, Liaqatabad, Baldia, Maripur, Super Highway and several areas, while some other areas saw slight drizzle.

The Met Office has also forecast heavy rain on Wednesday and Thursday.

Many parts of the port city plunged into darkness with the first drops of rain.

According to K-Electric, the city’s sole power supplier, more than 150 of 1400 electricity feeders in Karachi tripped as soon as the rainfall began.

A K-Electric spokesman said their personnel were busy trying to restore power to the affected areas as soon as possible.

Apart from Karachi the other cities of Sindh, inclining Tando Allahyar, Umarkot Chachro, Tando Muhammad Khan, Hyderabad, Sukkur, also experienced the rainfall.

According to DG Met Office, the intermittent rain will continue in the city till Wednesday.. Earlier pre-monsoon rains had slashed several parts of the country.

The city was expecting a sigh of relief after scorching temperatures since the last three days. The mercury shot to 40 degrees which severely affecting the lives of citizens in the city.

 

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