´Burkini´ about inclusion not division in Australia

SYDNEY: Part bikini, part all-covering burqa, the burkini swimsuit has sparked huge controversy in France, but in Australia where beach culture is a national obsession, it´s seen as a symbol of inclusion, says its designer Aheda Zanetti.

The light-weight, quick-drying two-piece swimsuit which covers the body and hair has been banned from French beaches by several mayors in recent weeks following deadly attacks linked to extremists.

While Australia is grappling with a rise in anti-Muslim sentiment after a series of assaults by radicalised youth, the burqini has not attracted strong criticism in a country where people regularly cover up at beaches to protect their skin from the harsh sunshine.

The swimsuit is rather seen as allowing more people to participate in the outdoor lifestyle Australians celebrate as part of their national culture.

When Australian-Lebanese Zanetti, 48, was designing the outfit on the lounge-room floor of her home in the multicultural southwestern Sydney suburb of Bankstown more than a decade ago, her first thoughts were about how it could help girls play sports while respecting their faith as Muslims.

"Australia has a lifestyle of beach, surf and sun and sporting activities and I felt that when I was growing up I missed out on a lot of the activities," Zanetti told AFP, adding that the idea stemmed from watching her niece play netball.

"I just didn't want anyone to miss out on any sporting activities like we all did because of our modesty restrictions."

Zanetti -- who was a housewife with three young children at the time -- opened her first shop in Sydney in 2005. Since then, she has sold some 700,000 suits, with the multi-million-dollar business also exporting to wholesalers in countries such as Bahrain, Britain, South Africa and Switzerland.

Like a second skin

The burkini came to national prominence after the Cronulla riots in Sydney in December 2005, when a drunken white mob attacked Arab-Australians in a bid to "reclaim the beach" after two lifesavers -- viewed as national icons -- were beaten, and retaliatory attacks spread.

The violence shocked Australians and sparked efforts by Surf Life Saving Australia to recruit Muslim lifeguards to patrol beaches. They also commissioned Zanetti to create a burkini in their iconic red and yellow colours.

For Siham Karra-Hassan, the burkini -- which she describes as "like a second skin" -- was her opportunity to return to the swimming pool, two decades after she was chased out of the water by a lifeguard for wearing cotton clothes.

"When the burkini came out, things changed very quickly," the mother-of-six told AFP, adding that her 25-year-old daughter was a burkini-wearing swimming instructor.

"I´m extremely active... so the more I can exercise, the more I can get into that water, the more I can throw this (burkini) on, I´m happy."

Other swimmers initially stared at Karra-Hassan but since then she has been approached by people, including non-Muslims, who want to wear the burkini to protect themselves from Australia's harsh sun.

Fitness instructor Fatma Taha, who runs women-only aqua aerobics classes at local swimming pools in Sydney´s west, regularly trains Muslims and told AFP the arrival of full-body swimwear made it easier for them to head to the water.

´No bombs in burkinis´ 

Zanetti claims the trademark on the name burkini and burqini and says her designs are the first to be streamlined into two-piece swimwear that have a head covering.

But she is frustrated the words have taken on negative connotations in France, where Islamic dress has long been a source of tension.

France already bans the full-face veil in public places, and friction over religion has grown following attacks claimed by the Islamic State group -- including the killing of 85 people after a truck rammed into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in Nice.

"They (French politicians) have taken the word of burkini to symbolise it as an Islamic term in a bad way, when it´s really just a word. It´s a word that I created to suit a product that I make... We´re not hiding any bombs underneath it, we are not going to create terrorists from it," she said.

"They are not addressing anything except hatred. A garment is just there to suit the need of that specific event. It just so happens a burkini swimsuit is a modest type of dress for a specific event... and we still wear bikinis underneath it, if that counts."

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´Burkini´ about inclusion not division in Australia

SYDNEY: Part bikini, part all-covering burqa, the burkini swimsuit has sparked huge controversy in France, but in Australia where beach culture is a national obsession, it´s seen as a symbol of inclusion, says its designer Aheda Zanetti.

The light-weight, quick-drying two-piece swimsuit which covers the body and hair has been banned from French beaches by several mayors in recent weeks following deadly attacks linked to extremists.

While Australia is grappling with a rise in anti-Muslim sentiment after a series of assaults by radicalised youth, the burqini has not attracted strong criticism in a country where people regularly cover up at beaches to protect their skin from the harsh sunshine.

The swimsuit is rather seen as allowing more people to participate in the outdoor lifestyle Australians celebrate as part of their national culture.

When Australian-Lebanese Zanetti, 48, was designing the outfit on the lounge-room floor of her home in the multicultural southwestern Sydney suburb of Bankstown more than a decade ago, her first thoughts were about how it could help girls play sports while respecting their faith as Muslims.

"Australia has a lifestyle of beach, surf and sun and sporting activities and I felt that when I was growing up I missed out on a lot of the activities," Zanetti told AFP, adding that the idea stemmed from watching her niece play netball.

"I just didn't want anyone to miss out on any sporting activities like we all did because of our modesty restrictions."

Zanetti -- who was a housewife with three young children at the time -- opened her first shop in Sydney in 2005. Since then, she has sold some 700,000 suits, with the multi-million-dollar business also exporting to wholesalers in countries such as Bahrain, Britain, South Africa and Switzerland.

Like a second skin

The burkini came to national prominence after the Cronulla riots in Sydney in December 2005, when a drunken white mob attacked Arab-Australians in a bid to "reclaim the beach" after two lifesavers -- viewed as national icons -- were beaten, and retaliatory attacks spread.

The violence shocked Australians and sparked efforts by Surf Life Saving Australia to recruit Muslim lifeguards to patrol beaches. They also commissioned Zanetti to create a burkini in their iconic red and yellow colours.

For Siham Karra-Hassan, the burkini -- which she describes as "like a second skin" -- was her opportunity to return to the swimming pool, two decades after she was chased out of the water by a lifeguard for wearing cotton clothes.

"When the burkini came out, things changed very quickly," the mother-of-six told AFP, adding that her 25-year-old daughter was a burkini-wearing swimming instructor.

"I´m extremely active... so the more I can exercise, the more I can get into that water, the more I can throw this (burkini) on, I´m happy."

Other swimmers initially stared at Karra-Hassan but since then she has been approached by people, including non-Muslims, who want to wear the burkini to protect themselves from Australia's harsh sun.

Fitness instructor Fatma Taha, who runs women-only aqua aerobics classes at local swimming pools in Sydney´s west, regularly trains Muslims and told AFP the arrival of full-body swimwear made it easier for them to head to the water.

´No bombs in burkinis´ 

Zanetti claims the trademark on the name burkini and burqini and says her designs are the first to be streamlined into two-piece swimwear that have a head covering.

But she is frustrated the words have taken on negative connotations in France, where Islamic dress has long been a source of tension.

France already bans the full-face veil in public places, and friction over religion has grown following attacks claimed by the Islamic State group -- including the killing of 85 people after a truck rammed into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in Nice.

"They (French politicians) have taken the word of burkini to symbolise it as an Islamic term in a bad way, when it´s really just a word. It´s a word that I created to suit a product that I make... We´re not hiding any bombs underneath it, we are not going to create terrorists from it," she said.

"They are not addressing anything except hatred. A garment is just there to suit the need of that specific event. It just so happens a burkini swimsuit is a modest type of dress for a specific event... and we still wear bikinis underneath it, if that counts."

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Police recovers child kidnapped from Lahore in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Police on Saturday recovered a nine-year-old child who was kidnapped from Lahore.

Umiar set out from his seminary at Qila Lachman Singh on Thursday when kidnappers drugged him, police said. The kidnappers then brought the unconscious child to the Faizabad bus station in Islamabad.

They left the child and went to have lunch. Umair gained consciousness and fled. A taxi driver on the way saw the wailing child and informed the police. Umair was kept in police custody after which his father a truck driver named Manzoor was informed of his son’s whereabouts.

The child will be handed over to his father after coordination with the Lahore police.

 

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Polling underway for PS 14 by-elections

JACOBABAD: Polling for by-elections at PS 14 is underway. The seat was left vacant after  Pakistan People?s Party candidate Sardar Mohammad Muqeem Khan Khoso passed away.

Mir Aurangzeb Khan from PPP and Mir Raja Khan from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf will contest against each other. Aslam Abro from Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz and Dr Abdul Ghani from Jamiat Ulema Islam are also competing for the seat.

By-elections are being held at 163 polling stations of which 63 are sensitive, while 100 are extremely sensitive.

Rangers have been deployed inside and outside polling stations.

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Polling underway for PS 14 by-elections

JACOBABAD: Polling for by-elections at PS 14 is underway. The seat was left vacant after  Pakistan People’s Party candidate Sardar Mohammad Muqeem Khan Khoso passed away.

Mir Aurangzeb Khan from PPP and Mir Raja Khan from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf will contest against each other. Aslam Abro from Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz and Dr Abdul Ghani from Jamiat Ulema Islam are also competing for the seat.

By-elections are being held at 163 polling stations of which 63 are sensitive, while 100 are extremely sensitive.

Rangers have been deployed inside and outside polling stations.

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Mission accomplished as Bolt seals ´triple-triple´

RIO DE JANEIRO: Usain Bolt brought the curtain down on his Olympic career with a record-equalling ninth gold medal on Friday, anchoring Jamaica to relay glory in a perfectly-scripted finale to complete his unprecedented "triple-triple."

The 29-year-old superstar, widely seen as the greatest sprinter in history, stormed over the line in 37.27sec to trigger an eruption of adulation in the Olympic Stadium.

Japan´s quartet took a surprise silver in 37.60sec while Canada took bronze after the United States, who crossed in third, were later disqualified.

The victory saw Bolt complete a third consecutive clean sweep of the 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles following his six gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Games.

It leaves Bolt ? who will retire in 2017 ? level with Carl Lewis and Paavo Nurmi on a total of nine Olympic gold medals, a record for a track and field athlete.

The relay gold was the final act of an incredible Olympic career that redefined athletics and often left commentators scrambling to find a new vocabulary of superlatives as each new milestone came and went.

On Sunday Bolt became the first man in history to win a hat-trick of 100m gold medals.

He then followed that up with Thursday´s barnstorming win in the 200m, sealing another never-before-seen treble.

Friday´s triumph was potentially the most awkward, with Bolt´s gold medal hopes reliant on the performances of his team-mates.

But Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake and Nickel Ashmeade were in no mood to fluff their lines.

A superb third leg by Ashmeade ensured that Bolt had a precious lead after the final changeover.

From that point there was only ever going to be one outcome and Bolt powered home by three metres to universal delight.

Bolt will now set off a year-long lap of honour that will culminate with the World Championships in London next August.

The Jamaican is preparing to exit with athletics fighting to restore credibility after a year dominated by doping and corruption scandals.

International Association of Athletics Federations president Sebastian Coe is adamant however that athletics will endure despite the loss of its most charismatic leading man.

In an interview with AFP on Friday, Coe said Bolt had transcended his sport in a way that was comparable to boxing icon Muhammad Ali.

"The man is a genius," Coe said. "There´s been nobody since Muhammad Ali who´s got remotely near to what this guy has done in terms of grabbing the public imagination."

However, Coe argued that just as a new generation of boxers emerged after Ali´s retirement, so track and field would unearth new personalities after Bolt.

"It´s a massive gap, but it´s not a gap that is insuperable," Coe said.

"You´re not going to fill that gap overnight, but there are great, talented athletes out there."

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Trump pleads for black votes: ?What do you have to lose??

NEW YORK: Donald Trump made a sustained pitch Friday to African American voters, who have overwhelmingly flocked to his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, telling them: "what do you have to lose?"

The Republican presidential nominee, who languishes in the polls both nationwide and in virtually every battleground state, faces an uphill battle to broaden his support base if he is to avoid a Democratic landslide in November.

"No group in America has been more harmed by Hillary Clinton?s policies than African Americans," Trump told a rally in Dimondale, Michigan.

"If Hillary Clinton?s goal was to inflict pain on the African American community, she could not have done a better job. It?s a disgrace," he added.

He told the crowd that he was asking for the vote of "every single African American citizen in this country who wants to see a better future."

"Look how much African American communities have suffered under Democratic control. To those I say the following: what do you have to lose by trying something new like Trump?" he said.

The New York billionaire, whose controversial run for the presidency has attracted white supremacists, alienated immigrants and done little to win over minorities, said blacks were living in poverty facing disproportionately high unemployment rates and without good schools.

"Your schools are no good, you?re living in poverty... What the hell do you have to lose?" Trump repeated.

African Americans voted overwhelmingly in favour of outgoing Democratic President Barack Obama and Clinton?s husband, former president Bill Clinton.

In 2012, Republican nominee Mitt Romney won only six percent of the black vote.

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Mission accomplished as Bolt seals ´triple-triple´

RIO DE JANEIRO: Usain Bolt brought the curtain down on his Olympic career with a record-equalling ninth gold medal on Friday, anchoring Jamaica to relay glory in a perfectly-scripted finale to complete his unprecedented "triple-triple."

The 29-year-old superstar, widely seen as the greatest sprinter in history, stormed over the line in 37.27sec to trigger an eruption of adulation in the Olympic Stadium.

Japan´s quartet took a surprise silver in 37.60sec while Canada took bronze after the United States, who crossed in third, were later disqualified.

The victory saw Bolt complete a third consecutive clean sweep of the 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles following his six gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Games.

It leaves Bolt â€" who will retire in 2017 â€" level with Carl Lewis and Paavo Nurmi on a total of nine Olympic gold medals, a record for a track and field athlete.

The relay gold was the final act of an incredible Olympic career that redefined athletics and often left commentators scrambling to find a new vocabulary of superlatives as each new milestone came and went.

On Sunday Bolt became the first man in history to win a hat-trick of 100m gold medals.

He then followed that up with Thursday´s barnstorming win in the 200m, sealing another never-before-seen treble.

Friday´s triumph was potentially the most awkward, with Bolt´s gold medal hopes reliant on the performances of his team-mates.

But Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake and Nickel Ashmeade were in no mood to fluff their lines.

A superb third leg by Ashmeade ensured that Bolt had a precious lead after the final changeover.

From that point there was only ever going to be one outcome and Bolt powered home by three metres to universal delight.

Bolt will now set off a year-long lap of honour that will culminate with the World Championships in London next August.

The Jamaican is preparing to exit with athletics fighting to restore credibility after a year dominated by doping and corruption scandals.

International Association of Athletics Federations president Sebastian Coe is adamant however that athletics will endure despite the loss of its most charismatic leading man.

In an interview with AFP on Friday, Coe said Bolt had transcended his sport in a way that was comparable to boxing icon Muhammad Ali.

"The man is a genius," Coe said. "There´s been nobody since Muhammad Ali who´s got remotely near to what this guy has done in terms of grabbing the public imagination."

However, Coe argued that just as a new generation of boxers emerged after Ali´s retirement, so track and field would unearth new personalities after Bolt.

"It´s a massive gap, but it´s not a gap that is insuperable," Coe said.

"You´re not going to fill that gap overnight, but there are great, talented athletes out there."

Read More

I love taking risks with my work, says Anil Kapoor

LONDON: Not many Bollywood film stars go from the big screen to television, but the Indian actor and producer Anil Kapoor has not had a traditional career.

Kapoor acted in the Oscar-winning "Slumdog Millionaire", and now he's back with a second season of "24", the Indian remake of the U.S. television series about a counter-terrorism agent. He stars as Jai Singh Rathod, the Indian equivalent of Jack Bauer.

"People say that movie stars and big movie stars don't do television because from the big screen you're in everybody's bedroom, it's small screen. So that risk was there," Kapoor told Reuters in an interview in London. "But I've always taken risks in my career, and I love playing with fire."

The 59-year-old actor first came to London in 1979 as a backup dancer in a show at the Royal Albert Hall. Since then, he has acted in more than 100 films, including "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" with Tom Cruise and numerous Bollywood hits like "Mr India" and "Taal". He also acted in the American "24".

The second season of India?s "24", which will also air in London on Colors TV, is a 24-episode series representing 24 hours in Rathod's life as he races to save civilians from becoming collateral damage in a medical terrorism plot. Kapoor said the story is relevant in today's world, where terrorism is the biggest threat.

"The content has to be great and I felt that '24' has that potential. It's a great story, it's great content ... Initially, yes, when I was doing it, there was a risk, but in my mind I was very confident that people are going to like it," he said.

The show aims to break up viewing habits in India, which are dominated by women and tend towards programmes centred on love and the complex relationships within an extended Indian family. It will take time to change that mindset, Kapoor said, but India's middle class and youth want more realistic fare.

"It has to be as real as possible. If there was a film which is slightly the way it was made earlier, which is melodramatic or doesn't look believable, starts looking fake, those films are rejected," he said.

The actor, whose three children have also followed in his footsteps into the Indian film industry, said shooting for television was more intense than doing a film because it required longer working hours for a longer period of time.

After wrapping up the second season of "24", Kapoor plans to start work on the upcoming Bollywood family drama "Mubaraka". He has also secured the rights to make Indian versions of the shows "Modern Family" and "Prison Break".

 

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I love taking risks with my work, says Anil Kapoor

LONDON: Not many Bollywood film stars go from the big screen to television, but the Indian actor and producer Anil Kapoor has not had a traditional career.

Kapoor acted in the Oscar-winning "Slumdog Millionaire", and now he's back with a second season of "24", the Indian remake of the U.S. television series about a counter-terrorism agent. He stars as Jai Singh Rathod, the Indian equivalent of Jack Bauer.

"People say that movie stars and big movie stars don't do television because from the big screen you're in everybody's bedroom, it's small screen. So that risk was there," Kapoor told Reuters in an interview in London. "But I've always taken risks in my career, and I love playing with fire."

The 59-year-old actor first came to London in 1979 as a backup dancer in a show at the Royal Albert Hall. Since then, he has acted in more than 100 films, including "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" with Tom Cruise and numerous Bollywood hits like "Mr India" and "Taal". He also acted in the American "24".

The second season of India’s "24", which will also air in London on Colors TV, is a 24-episode series representing 24 hours in Rathod's life as he races to save civilians from becoming collateral damage in a medical terrorism plot. Kapoor said the story is relevant in today's world, where terrorism is the biggest threat.

"The content has to be great and I felt that '24' has that potential. It's a great story, it's great content ... Initially, yes, when I was doing it, there was a risk, but in my mind I was very confident that people are going to like it," he said.

The show aims to break up viewing habits in India, which are dominated by women and tend towards programmes centred on love and the complex relationships within an extended Indian family. It will take time to change that mindset, Kapoor said, but India's middle class and youth want more realistic fare.

"It has to be as real as possible. If there was a film which is slightly the way it was made earlier, which is melodramatic or doesn't look believable, starts looking fake, those films are rejected," he said.

The actor, whose three children have also followed in his footsteps into the Indian film industry, said shooting for television was more intense than doing a film because it required longer working hours for a longer period of time.

After wrapping up the second season of "24", Kapoor plans to start work on the upcoming Bollywood family drama "Mubaraka". He has also secured the rights to make Indian versions of the shows "Modern Family" and "Prison Break".

 

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Police arrest eight suspects from different localities of Karachi

KARACHI: Police on Saturday arrested eight suspects from different areas of Karachi.

As per details, the raids were conducted in Landhi 89, Manghopir and Joharabad localities of the port city.

Sources told Geo News that three suspects arrested from Joharabad used to rob people outside banks.

According to police, the mastermind of the gang has also been arrested previously while search was underway to trace his other accomplices.

In Manghopir, police raided and arrested two suspects who used to sell cars in Balochistan after stealing them from Karachi.

Weapons and two motorcycles without number plates were recovered from them.

In Landhi 89, three suspects were arrested after an alleged police encounter.

Meanwhile personnel belonging to a Law Enforcement Agency raided an empty house in Shah Faisal Colony and recovered an LMG, SMG and more than 200 bullets.

Two suspects escaped during the raid. A search is underway for their arrest.

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Police arrest eight suspects from different localities of Karachi

KARACHI: Police on Saturday arrested eight suspects from different areas of Karachi.

As per details, the raids were conducted in Landhi 89, Manghopir and Joharabad localities of the port city.

Sources told Geo News that three suspects arrested from Joharabad used to rob people outside banks.

According to police, the mastermind of the gang has also been arrested previously while search was underway to trace his other accomplices.

In Manghopir, police raided and arrested two suspects who used to sell cars in Balochistan after stealing them from Karachi.

Weapons and two motorcycles without number plates were recovered from them.

In Landhi 89, three suspects were arrested after an alleged police encounter.

Meanwhile personnel belonging to a Law Enforcement Agency raided an empty house in Shah Faisal Colony and recovered an LMG, SMG and more than 200 bullets.

Two suspects escaped during the raid. A search is underway for their arrest.

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Olympics: Iran hails first woman medallist

 

TEHRAN: Iran on Friday cheered Kimia Alizadeh who became the first Iranian woman ever to win an Olympic medal with President Hassan Rouhani leading the praise over her taekwondo bronze.

"My daughter Kimia, you have triggered the happiness of all the Iranians, and particularly of the women. I wish you eternal joy," the president tweeted.

The message is accompanied by a picture showing Alizadeh, 18, draped in the Iranian flag celebrating her Thursday victory in Rio, where she clinched bronze by beating Nikita Glasnostic of Sweden 5-1 in the taekwondo under-57kg division.

Even conservatives voiced their satisfaction over the teenager's win.

Fars news agency, which is close to the deeply conservative camp in Iran, hailed "Kimia who made history" and said in a report that the bronze medal she won "is worth gold".

"What an honour... to be the first," wrote Fars, describing Kimia as the "lionness of Iran" and adding that "one must be a woman to totally feel this moment with pride".

In keeping with Iran's strict custom, the teenager competed wearing a head scarf over with her taekwondo uniform and protective gear.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari congratulated Alizadeh as well Hedaya Malak of Egypt, who landed the other women´s bronze in taekwondo, in a statement on his Instagram page.

He said the presence on the podium of the two veiled women was the "symbol of the unity and the efforts of Muslim women, who shine and yet respect their values".

Alizadeh's victory was also celebrated on social networks by many of her compatriots, including popular actress Taraneh Alidoosti who sparked debate in Iran this year after she was pictured with a "woman power" symbol tattooed on her arm.

"The future will tell what you have achieved for your peers," tweeted Alidoosti.

"You have bolstered their faith and showed them that (sports) belongs to them as well," she wrote.

Iranian women are banned from entering stadiums for major sporting events, including football, as part of a male-female segregation ushered in by Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution.

In 1992, Lida Fariman was the first Iranian woman to compete at the Olympics in Barcelona in shooting.

This year, the Iran team at the Olympics comprised nine women out of a total of 41 athletes.

Alizadeh told Iranian television she was very excited about her victory in Rio and hopes Iranian women will be able to clinch gold at the next Olympics.

Her father was likewise elated.

"I hope that the Iranian people appreciate what Kimia has achieved," Keyvan Alizadeh told Mehr news agency. "She gave herself 100 percent".

He said an injury had prevented the young woman from grabbing the gold.

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Olympics: Iran hails first woman medallist

 

TEHRAN: Iran on Friday cheered Kimia Alizadeh who became the first Iranian woman ever to win an Olympic medal with President Hassan Rouhani leading the praise over her taekwondo bronze.

"My daughter Kimia, you have triggered the happiness of all the Iranians, and particularly of the women. I wish you eternal joy," the president tweeted.

The message is accompanied by a picture showing Alizadeh, 18, draped in the Iranian flag celebrating her Thursday victory in Rio, where she clinched bronze by beating Nikita Glasnostic of Sweden 5-1 in the taekwondo under-57kg division.

Even conservatives voiced their satisfaction over the teenager's win.

Fars news agency, which is close to the deeply conservative camp in Iran, hailed "Kimia who made history" and said in a report that the bronze medal she won "is worth gold".

"What an honour... to be the first," wrote Fars, describing Kimia as the "lionness of Iran" and adding that "one must be a woman to totally feel this moment with pride".

In keeping with Iran's strict custom, the teenager competed wearing a head scarf over with her taekwondo uniform and protective gear.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari congratulated Alizadeh as well Hedaya Malak of Egypt, who landed the other women´s bronze in taekwondo, in a statement on his Instagram page.

He said the presence on the podium of the two veiled women was the "symbol of the unity and the efforts of Muslim women, who shine and yet respect their values".

Alizadeh's victory was also celebrated on social networks by many of her compatriots, including popular actress Taraneh Alidoosti who sparked debate in Iran this year after she was pictured with a "woman power" symbol tattooed on her arm.

"The future will tell what you have achieved for your peers," tweeted Alidoosti.

"You have bolstered their faith and showed them that (sports) belongs to them as well," she wrote.

Iranian women are banned from entering stadiums for major sporting events, including football, as part of a male-female segregation ushered in by Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution.

In 1992, Lida Fariman was the first Iranian woman to compete at the Olympics in Barcelona in shooting.

This year, the Iran team at the Olympics comprised nine women out of a total of 41 athletes.

Alizadeh told Iranian television she was very excited about her victory in Rio and hopes Iranian women will be able to clinch gold at the next Olympics.

Her father was likewise elated.

"I hope that the Iranian people appreciate what Kimia has achieved," Keyvan Alizadeh told Mehr news agency. "She gave herself 100 percent".

He said an injury had prevented the young woman from grabbing the gold.

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Amber Heard donates $7mn settlement from Johnny Depp to charity

LOS ANGELES: Actress Amber Heard said on Thursday she is donating her $7 million divorce settlement from actor Johnny Depp to charity.

Heard, 30, said in a statement that she is dividing the full settlement equally between the American Civil Liberties Union, specifically to prevent violence against women, and the Children´s Hospital of Los Angeles.

"As described in the restraining order and divorce settlement, money played no role for me personally and never has, except to the extent that I could donate it to charity and, in doing so, hopefully help those less able to defend themselves," the actress said.

Depp's representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Heard and Depp, 53, privately settled their acrimonious divorce case on Tuesday, a day ahead of a court hearing on the status of a restraining order the actress had obtained against her estranged husband.

The couple released a joint statement calling their relationship "intensely passionate and at times volatile but always bound by love," adding that "there was never any intent of physical or emotional harm.

"The settlement ended the couple's 15-month marriage after weeks of highly publicized claims of domestic violence by Heard and counterclaims of financial blackmailing by Depp.

Depp, one of Hollywood's top actors and box-office draws with franchises such as "Pirates of the Caribbean," married Heard, known for "Friday Night Lights," in February 2015 after meeting on the set of the 2011 film "The Rum Diary.

"Heard will be starring in Warner Bros´ upcoming "Justice League" superhero film, while Depp will reprise his lead role in the next "Pirates of the Caribbean" film.

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Trump's campaign chairman Manafort resigns: statement

WASHINGTON: Paul Manafort resigned as chairman of US Republican candidate Donald Trump's presidential campaign on Friday, days after he was effectively demoted in a shake-up of the campaign's leadership.

"This morning Paul Manafort offered, and I accepted, his resignation from the campaign," Trump said in a statement.

"I am very appreciative for his great work in helping to get us where we are today, and in particular his work guiding us through the delegate and convention process. Paul is a true professional and I wish him the greatest success,? Trump said.

On Wednesday, Trump overhauled his presidential campaign team, hiring the head of a conservative news website to bolster his combative image and to try to reverse poor opinion poll numbers in the race against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton for the Nov. 8 election.

The move, his second staff revamp in less than two months, essentially served as demotion for Manafort, who was brought on in June in an attempt to bring a more professional touch but has struggled to rein in Trump's freewheeling ways.

Manafort has also come under increased scrutiny in recent days over alleged ties with pro-Russian political groups in Ukraine.

Earlier on Friday, a Ukrainian lawmaker offered more details of what he said were payments made to Manafort by the political party of the Kremlin-backed former Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovich.

Manafort, in a statement earlier this week, has denied the allegations, which were first made in The New York Times on Monday.

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Another Congo patient dies in Karachi

KARACHI: A 22-year-old Congo virus patient died at the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center, raising the number of deaths from the deadly disease in Karachi to five, doctors said on Friday.

A 22-year-old Allah Ditta, son of Elahib Bux and resident of the Bakra Peeri locality, was admitted to the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center seven days ago, Deputy Director JPMC Dr Javaid Jamali told Geo News.

"Doctors took the patient's blood samples and tried very hard to save his life" but were unsuccessful, he said.

According to Sindh Health Department focal person Dr Zafar Mehdi, the patient had high-grade fever and was bleeding from the gums and nose.

Officials said the victim was a cow-seller and had arrived from Bahawalpur 25 days ago.

So far, five people have been died from Congo virus in Karachi hospitals. According to officials, three of the patients belonged to Bahawalpur, one from Karachi, and another was from Afghanistan.

The Crimeanâ€"Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a widespread tick-borne viral disease that can be fatal.

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Pakistan shares close lower

KARACHI: Pakistan shares closed lower on Friday, as cement and fertilizer stocks fell on reports the government had cut the price of urea and on market talk that it had abolished customs duty on cement imports, dealers said.

The benchmark 100-share index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange closed down 0.68 percent, or 272.12 points, at 39,499.08."The cement and fertilizer sector led the market to fall on Friday amid rumors of abolishing duty from imported cement and government decision to reduce urea prices by over a quarter to combat glut," said Fawad Khan, head of research at KASB Securities Pvt Ltd.

Fauji Fertilizer Company Ltd fell 1.05 percent, Engro Fertilizer Ltd declined 1.45 percent, D G Khan Cement Company Ltd dropped 2.55 percent and Lucky Cement Ltd lost 1.14 percent.

The rupee ended steady at 104.67/104.71 against the dollar, compared with Thursday´s close of 104.68/104.72.Overnight rates in the money market rose to 6.10 percent from Thursday´s close of 5.70 percent.

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Mob justice in Karachi: Three ?innocent? people thrashed over child kidnapping suspicion

KARACHI: Frenzy over reports of child kidnappings does not seem to abate as on Friday three people fell victim to mob justice, after people mistook them for kidnappers in Karachi.

Three separate incidents took place in different parts of karachi when violent mobs thrashed innocent people over child kidnapping suspicions in the city. 

The incidents were apparently sparked by rumours of widespread child abductions in the city during the past few days.

The first victim on Friday was a government official, the second a guard, while the third one turned out to be a beggar.

In the Lines Area locality, a KMC sweeper identified as Suresh Kumar was beaten by people.

A security guard was thrashed by a mob near Hasan Square. The third man was a beggar who faced vigilante justice in Gulshan-i-Iqbal area.

Police requested the public not to take law into their hands.

The reports of kidnapping attempts started making rounds recently in the city, creating panic among public. These reports were termed rumours by Police Chief Mushtaq Mehar.

He had said that the information pertaining to this was being spread with malafide intentions in an attempt to create panic in the minds of parents and to discredit the efforts of Police and Rangers. ?Such unverified and untruthful information is vehemently denied as it is not based on facts?.

The panic can be attributed to the prevailing wave of anxiety in Punjab after reports of kidnapping of 600 children from Lahore and other parts of the province within a short span of time.

The Supreme Court (SC) is also hearing a suo motu case with regard to surge in incidents of child kidnapping in Punjab.

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Nowshera online blackmailer confesses to making videos of 20 girls

NOWSHERA: A man who allegedly blackmailed women online has made shocking revelations during investigation, police said on Friday.

The man identified as Mehranullah confessed to making explicit videos of 20 girls and also being involved in trafficking drugs abroad.

The suspect confessed that he smuggled drugs abroad twice and was caught in the act the third time.

Investigating Officer Nawaz Khan said that the suspect would be tried under the Cyber Crime Act.

Police arrested the accused from the Peshawar-Islamabad Rashakai interchange on Monday when a young woman reportedly kidnapped by the man spotted the police and started screaming for help.

The accused belongs to Peshawar and his father is a meter inspector at PASSCO, said the investigating officer.

Around 800 explicit photos and videos of women were found in Mehran's mobile phone, which he had also shared with seven other members of his group.

His mobile phone was also found to have videos of abuse of eight women, according to District Police Officer Nowshera Wahid Mehmood.

The FIA has handed over an 84-page forensic report to police, according to which the suspect would upload explicit pictures and videos from his fake id and share it with his accomplices, said the DPO in Nowshera.

More videos were suspected to be present in the phone’s hidden files. FIA services were also sought for data recovery.

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Mob justice in Karachi: Three ?innocent? people thrashed over child kidnapping suspicion

KARACHI: Frenzy over reports of child kidnappings does not seem to abate as on Friday three people fell victim to mob justice, after people mistook them for kidnappers in Karachi.

Three separate incidents took place in different parts of karachi when violent mobs thrashed innocent people over child kidnapping suspicions in the city. 

The incidents were apparently sparked by rumours of widespread child abductions in the city during the past few days.

The first victim on Friday was a government official, the second a guard, while the third one turned out to be a beggar.

In the Lines Area locality, a KMC sweeper identified as Suresh Kumar was beaten by people.

A security guard was thrashed by a mob near Hasan Square. The third man was a beggar who faced vigilante justice in Gulshan-i-Iqbal area.

Police requested the public not to take law into their hands.

The reports of kidnapping attempts started making rounds recently in the city, creating panic among public. These reports were termed rumours by Police Chief Mushtaq Mehar.

He had said that the information pertaining to this was being spread with malafide intentions in an attempt to create panic in the minds of parents and to discredit the efforts of Police and Rangers. “Such unverified and untruthful information is vehemently denied as it is not based on facts”.

The panic can be attributed to the prevailing wave of anxiety in Punjab after reports of kidnapping of 600 children from Lahore and other parts of the province within a short span of time.

The Supreme Court (SC) is also hearing a suo motu case with regard to surge in incidents of child kidnapping in Punjab.

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Council of Islamic Ideology rejects KP domestic violence bill

ISLAMABAD: The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Friday dismissed the bill pertaining to domestic violence by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, terming the draft legislation contradictory to Islamic Shariah.

The reference of the domestic violence bill was dismissed after detailed consideration on grounds of being against the teaching of Shariah, said the CII in a press release.

The CII had sent an initial response regarding the bill on March 28 and a detailed decision with arguments and references on August 18, the press statement said.

According to the CII, a working paper is made to take a closer look at a reference, following which consensus of all members is obtained.

A decision is made after detailed consideration and validation by all members of the Council, said the CII.

The Provincial Commission on Status of Women (PCSW) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province had earlier expressed concern over the delay in response by the CII to the proposed draft of domestic violence bill.

The CII, led by Maulana Mohammad Khan Shirani, is a constitutional body that advises the legislature whether or not a law is repugnant or in contradiction with the laws of the Holy Quran, Sunnah, or Islamic teachings.

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Top view of Malam Jabba

The scenic valley of Malam Jabba is seeing a return to its past glory as chairlifts destroyed due to militancy have been restored.

Those visiting the chairlifts can see the valley from its most magnificent view. It took eights but finally tourists can once again enjoy the chairlifts at the ski resort. 

?I am here with my family and really enjoying it. Malam Jabba is a really nice place,? said a child who was visiting the area.

Another tourist described praised the administration for maintaining the area.

Not only tourists but residents of the area are also rejoicing. Residents praised the restoration of the area?s infrastructure and called for further development in the form of roads being built.  ?This can be a great resort but more needs to be done. The government should pay attention to this,? a visitor told Geo News.

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Council of Islamic Ideology rejects KP domestic violence bill

ISLAMABAD: The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Friday dismissed the bill pertaining to domestic violence by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, terming the draft legislation contradictory to Islamic Shariah.

The reference of the domestic violence bill was dismissed after detailed consideration on grounds of being against the teaching of Shariah, said the CII in a press release.

The CII had sent an initial response regarding the bill on March 28 and a detailed decision with arguments and references on August 18, the press statement said.

According to the CII, a working paper is made to take a closer look at a reference, following which consensus of all members is obtained.

A decision is made after detailed consideration and validation by all members of the Council, said the CII.

The Provincial Commission on Status of Women (PCSW) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province had earlier expressed concern over the delay in response by the CII to the proposed draft of domestic violence bill.

The CII, led by Maulana Mohammad Khan Shirani, is a constitutional body that advises the legislature whether or not a law is repugnant or in contradiction with the laws of the Holy Quran, Sunnah, or Islamic teachings.

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Brazilian chef wins ´World Sushi Cup´ in Tokyo

TOKYO: A Brazilian chef won the World Sushi Cup Friday, bursting into tears of joy after his knife skills and artful preparation of salmon roe, tuna and shrimp delicacies wowed Japanese judges.

With the country´s UNESCO-recognised cuisine enjoying an explosion of global popularity, the competition -- sponsored by Japan´s agricultural ministry -- aims to improve sushi standards overseas.

Dressed in white coats and hats, 27 chefs from countries ranging from France, Brazil and the US to Pakistan, nervously prepared fish and made traditional "Edo" style sushi, in tightly timed rounds.

Their techniques were closely watched and evaluated by a panel of Japanese sushi masters, with 20 chefs making it through to the finals on day two, where they had to show off their own original styles of sushi.

"I had fun," said cup winner Celso Hideji Amano, 38, a Brazilian of Japanese ancestry who shone in the traditional sushi making round, before busting into tears.

"It´s not an easy competition," Usman Khan, a 32-year-old Pakistani chef working at a branch of the prestigious Nobu restaurant chain in Cape Town, told AFP.

"You´re under a lot of pressure," he said on Thursday, the first day of the competition.

The annual contest was first held in 2013 and Khan, who has competed twice and made it through to the finals this year, said it was a good challenge.

"What better way to test your limits by competing against other chefs in the same profession in Japan," he said.

Khan first encountered sushi after he moved to South Africa from Kuwait 13 years ago.

"I couldn´t believe people could eat raw fish," he said.

"I was disgusted initially but I got intrigued."

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Government primary school in Lahore lying vacant for years

LAHORE: A government school constructed 14 years ago has been lying vacant for the last 14 years and is beginning to resemble a ghost house.

The school located on Multan road near Lahore was constructed in 2002 due to the efforts of local residents. Unfortunately the efforts of the residents have been in vain because there are neither any teachers nor any students at this school.

If one enters the school the can see the broken windows and furniture. The school’s ground where students were supposed to play has now become a hotbed for mosquitos.

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Sharjeel vows to work harder

DUBLIN: Sharjeel Khan hit one of the most spectacular limited-over knock of the year on Thursday and then announced that his best was yet to come.

His 152 at rain-soaked Malahide powered Pakistan to a 255-run victory against Ireland but the left-hander said that he would continue to work harder to bring further improvement in his performance at the international level.

“I have been really working hard on my batting, my fitness and my fielding,” he said after his match-winning performance in the first One-day International.

“The plan is to keep working harder because that’s the only way I can keep giving my best for Pakistan,” added Sharjeel, who celebrated his 27th birthday on August 14.

Sharjeel, despite his prowess to clear the boundary at will, was often ridiculed on the social media because many thought he was overweight for international cricket. He found the boot camp in Abbottabad earlier this summer tough, but somehow managed to lose more than five kilo-grammes.

And it showed.

He was in terrific form while playing for Pakistan A and England Lions earlier this season and is now looking set to making his presence felt in the five-match ODI series against England from August 24-September 2.

Thursday’s game at Malahide was Sharjeel’s first ODI in two years as he was dropped from the squad after failing to impress much in Sri Lanka in the summer of 2014. But Sharjeel was one of the stars of the inaugural Pakistan Super League (PSL) earlier this year in the UAE and also made his presence felt in the ICC World Twenty20 championship 2016.

“It was my comeback innings (in the ODI format) and I just wanted to give my best in it,” he said.

Sharjeel’s cause was helped by the fact that he had adapted to the conditions during Pakistan A’s tour of England.

“The conditions here are quite similar to what we faced in England and that certainly helped.”

 

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COAS visits troops on the frontline in Khyber Agency

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif, visited front line troops busy in operations along Pak-Afghan Border in Khyber Agency on Friday.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) wing of the Pakistan Army, the COAS was given a detailed briefing by the operational commander on progress of operations and gains consolidated so far.

Showing satisfaction over the progress of the operation, the Army Chief appreciated the highest state of morale and professionalism shown in fighting terrorists of various organisations hiding in the most rugged terrain.

Clearance of mountain passes in Rajgal, despite it being the most treacherous terrain, where terrorists were entrenched on the high mountain passes to stay both sides of the border, is a manifestation of Pakistan's commitment to check cross border movement and will go a long way in helping our initiative of Border Management.

The COAS directed enhanced vigilance and pro-active approach to stop any type of movement of terrorists.

While talking to troops, the Army Chief said that the nation and valiant army had paid a huge price to fight terrorism. “We will commit all efforts to clear all remote pockets and sleeper cells of terrorists till their total elimination from anywhere in the country,” the Army Chief said.

Earlier upon his arrival on the front lines, the COAS was received by Corps Commander Peshawar Lt Gen Hidayat Ur Rehman, the statement concluded.

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Germany proposes burqa ban in public places

BERLIN: Germany´s interior minister on Friday proposed partially banning the full-face burqa Islamic veil, as a debate on integration rages after two jihadist attacks and ahead of key state elections.

The call by Thomas de Maiziere comes as Chancellor Angela Merkel´s government attempts to address public fears surrounding last year´s record influx of nearly 1.1 million migrants and refugees, most from predominantly Muslim countries.

It also echoed a controversial decision by several French towns in recent weeks to outlaw burkinis, the full-body Islamic swimsuit, at a highly sensitive time for relations with the Muslim community following a series of Islamist attacks.

De Maiziere, one of Merkel´s closest allies, said after a meeting with regional counterparts from his conservative bloc that the burqa ban would cover "places where it is necessary for our society´s coexistence" including government offices, schools and universities, courtrooms, demonstrations and behind the wheel.

He told reporters that the full-face veil "does not belong in our cosmopolitan country", adding that it was "not a security issue but an integration issue".

The minister acknowledged that the burqa was not a common sight on German streets, calling the proposed ban a "preventive measure".

"Of course the issue of the full veil stands for the question which role certain branches of Islam play in Germany," he said.

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COAS visits troops on the frontline in Khyber Agency

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif, visited front line troops busy in operations along Pak-Afghan Border in Khyber Agency on Friday.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) wing of the Pakistan Army, the COAS was given a detailed briefing by the operational commander on progress of operations and gains consolidated so far.

Showing satisfaction over the progress of the operation, the Army Chief appreciated the highest state of morale and professionalism shown in fighting terrorists of various organisations hiding in the most rugged terrain.

Clearance of mountain passes in Rajgal, despite it being the most treacherous terrain, where terrorists were entrenched on the high mountain passes to stay both sides of the border, is a manifestation of Pakistan's commitment to check cross border movement and will go a long way in helping our initiative of Border Management.

The COAS directed enhanced vigilance and pro-active approach to stop any type of movement of terrorists.

While talking to troops, the Army Chief said that the nation and valiant army had paid a huge price to fight terrorism. ?We will commit all efforts to clear all remote pockets and sleeper cells of terrorists till their total elimination from anywhere in the country,? the Army Chief said.

Earlier upon his arrival on the front lines, the COAS was received by Corps Commander Peshawar Lt Gen Hidayat Ur Rehman, the statement concluded.

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Olympian Madiea Ghafoor thanks Pakistanis for support

RIO: Madiea Ghafoor, a Baloch girl who is representing Netherlands in the Olympics thanked the Pakistani Diaspora for showering her with so much love and supporting her.

?I am thankful to all the Pakistanis for showing me support,? she said in a video message. She will represent her country in the 4x400m relay.

?Unfortunately I will not be able to represent Pakistan in the Olympics as I was born and raised in the Netherlands.?

Though Madiea cannot speak Urdu but she is fluent in the Balochi language. "I am a Balochi girl," she said in the video message.

Madiea has her roots in Lyari even though she was born and raised in the Netherlands. Her parents lived in the old Baloch neighbourhood?and she is granddaughter of Lal Baksh Rind, a popular political activist in the 70s.

In a show of support the vibrant people of Lyari took up posters and picture of Madiea.

The young sprinter has a bright future ahead. In 2011 she won a bronze medal at the European Athletics Junior Championship held in Estonia, 2011.

The 23-year-old hopes that Pakistani girls will follow her example and take up sports as a profession. ?I hope more Pakistani girls take part in sports,? she said in her message.

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Olympian Madiea Ghafoor thanks Pakistanis for support

RIO: Madiea Ghafoor, a Baloch girl who is representing Netherlands in the Olympics thanked the Pakistani Diaspora for showering her with so much love and supporting her.

“I am thankful to all the Pakistanis for showing me support,” she said in a video message. She will represent her country in the 4x400m relay.

“Unfortunately I will not be able to represent Pakistan in the Olympics as I was born and raised in the Netherlands.”

Though Madiea cannot speak Urdu but she is fluent in the Balochi language. "I am a Balochi girl," she said in the video message.

Madiea has her roots in Lyari even though she was born and raised in the Netherlands. Her parents lived in the old Baloch neighbourhoodâ€"and she is granddaughter of Lal Baksh Rind, a popular political activist in the 70s.

In a show of support the vibrant people of Lyari took up posters and picture of Madiea.

The young sprinter has a bright future ahead. In 2011 she won a bronze medal at the European Athletics Junior Championship held in Estonia, 2011.

The 23-year-old hopes that Pakistani girls will follow her example and take up sports as a profession. “I hope more Pakistani girls take part in sports,” she said in her message.

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Tensions flare at the Torkham Border as Afghans stage anti-Pakistan protest

CHAMAN: Afghan citizens on Friday took out a rally against Pakistan for their Independence Day till the Bab-e-Dosti gate at the Torkham Border.

The protest was held in reaction to a similar protest tribes on the Pakistan side had held yesterday denouncing Indian Prime Minister Modi’s statement on Balochistan.

The Afghans in presence of their security forces pelted stones at the Bab-e-Dosti gate due to which the glass on the gate shattered. The angry protesters desecrated the Pakistan flag by burning it.

Pakistan Frontier Corp in retaliation closed down the Bab-e-Dosti gate due to which trade across the border came to a complete halt.

Long queues of NATO trucks and other vehicles formed at the border due to which traders faced immense difficulties.

Modi had sparked controversy on the Indian Independence Day on August 15 when he had alleged that Pakistan was a supporter of ‘terrorism’ and that the people of Balochistan, Gilgit and Kashmir had thanked him in the past few days.

Tensions had flared at Torkham earlier in July when Pakistan decided to construct a gate to monitor movement of goods and passengers across the border. Firing by Afghan forces had killed a Pakistan major and injured several. Construction of the gate was completed in August.

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CNG stations in Sindh to remain closed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday

KARACHI: All Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) filling stations will remain closed next week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for 24-hour spells while gas supply to industries will remain suspended from midnight on Sunday for 24 hours.

The  Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) released its schedule for the coming week on Friday. According to the schedule CNG stations will remain closed for 24 hours starting from 8AM on Monday and the same 24-hour closure will be observed from 8AM on Wednesday and Friday.

Meanwhile according to the SSGC spokesman, gas supply to industries will remain suspended from 7AM on Sunday and will resume after 24 hours.

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Pakistani students seek glory at eco marathon

Pakistani students are proving that they can compete with the best in the world. This is evident as students from Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute have been selected to participate in the Shell Eco Marathon, an international event in which students from across Asia participate with the vehicles they?ve built.

Team Urban comprises 20 students who wish to portray a positive image of Pakistan by building fuel efficient vehicles.  The car they have built will be competing with a Pakistani flag painted on it and can travel 57.4 kilometers on just one litre of fuel.

In their first appearance in the Philippines in March 2016 the team secured 7th position out of 118 teams, including four others from Pakistan.

Hashir Shafi and Daniya Lateef from Team Urban appeared on Geo Pakistan this morning and spoke of the fuel efficient car they have made. They expressed hope to secure a top three spot in the competition. Both of them urged the Pakistani youth to remain optimistic as there were several avenues available for opportunities.

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LHC bars metro work near historic sites

LAHORE: Lahore High Court on Friday banned construction of the country´s first rapid mass transit system within 200 feet (61 metres) of historic buildings in the city of Lahore, in a victory for heritage campaigners.

Campaigners had argued that the Chinese-funded metro project, most of which will be elevated, would endanger sites including the Mughal Fort, the Shalimar Gardens - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - a nineteenth century British-built church and the Victorian-era General Post Office.

"We are very much concerned about heritage in the city. The court has accepted our arguments and ordered construction to stop," said Azhar Siddique, a lawyer and petitioner in the case.

The Lahore High Court judgement upholds an earlier decision in January.

However, the court declared that environmental approvals that the petitioners had said should be cancelled were valid, thereby allowing construction more than 200 feet from protected monuments to proceed.

The project manager of the Lahore Metro was not available to comment on the impact the ruling would have on construction.

Public transport is in desperately short supply in Pakistan and the government hopes the metro will ease travel in one of the country´s fastest-growing cities.

The route of the line has puzzled many experts, however, who say far less damaging alternative routes were not considered, the United Nations said in January.

Construction began last year and has led to forced evictions and threatened protected sites and minority places of worship, the United Nations said.

Campaigners contend that the awarding of the project lacked transparency and was not done in consultation with residents. They have filed a second petition challenging the process.

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CPLC dismisses rumours of 'child kidnappings' in Karachi

KARACHI: CPLC on Friday issued a public notice in an attempt to dispel fear among residents of Karachi brought on by reports of ‘child kidnappings’ circulating on social media.

The notice by the Citizens Police Liasion Committee reads as follows:

“Social Media is playing an important role in today’s world and highlights issues that are important for the general public. Reports being published on social media regarding kidnapping of children are causing a lot of concern amongst the public.

CPLC plays a very important role in maintaining missing child data and integrity thereof. This data also does not support the reports being highlighted on social media. We are also very closely monitoring the situation and unable to verify the reports published on social media in this regard, which is causing great disturbance amongst the masses.

During current year, only 06 child kidnapping cases are reported out of which 05 children have been recovered. Other cases of missing children have also been reported but no element of organized kidnapping was found in any such case. Most of these missing children have been re-united with their families after being traced out or self returned. It is important to note that all of the missing children are not kidnapped, most of them fled from domestic violence and other problems.

CPLC remains committed to its utmost in detection of these cases and assures the public that if such incidents are reported to CPLC helpline 1102, it will carry out due diligence to apprehend the criminals involve in this heinous crime and also ensure safe return of the victim.”

Earlier this week police chief Mushtaq Maher termed these reports as mere “rumours” and said the high alert regarding widespread kidnapping of children and females by certain elements was not based on facts.

“There is no truth in children being in children being kidnapped systematically or in a planned way or dead bodies being recovered,” the police chief said.

He added that such reports were being spread with malafide intentions in an attempt to create panic in the minds of parents and discredit the efforts of Police and Rangers.

He requested that people not pay any heed to such rumours.

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100 Bangladesh villagers injured after TV show dispute

DHAKA: A brawl broke out between villagers in eastern Bangladesh arguing over the plot of an Indian fantasy television serial, leaving 100 people injured, police said Friday.

The villagers had gathered at a restaurant in Habiganj district on Wednesday night to watch Kiranmala, a famous Bengali-language show about a warrior princess who saves mankind from evil, when the dispute erupted.

Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowd as the argument escalated throughout the night, with angry viewers vandalising the restaurant in Dhol village and attacking each other with sticks and knives.

"Two men got involved into an argument over the story of the episode, which later turned into a group skirmish," local police chief Yasinul Haque told AFP.

"During the fight, the angry mob vandalised the restaurant and continued the fight on Thursday morning," he said.

At least 100 people were injured during the brawl in the village 176 kilometres (109 miles) north-east of Dhaka, Haque said, with 15 requiring hospital treatment.

Several Bangladeshis blasted the government on social media for allowing the broadcast of Indian television channels which they claim "spread degenerate culture" in the Muslim-majority nation.

"It is very sad we are fighting over mere acting. Channels should be filtered," Facebook user Aminur Rahman wrote.

Three suicides of young women have also been linked to watching Kiranmala in the past year, according to local media, after their parents reportedly refused to buy them an expensive dress worn by the princess.

 

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Alleged kidnapper arrested in Karachi

KARACHI: Police on Friday arrested a man alleged of attempting to kidnap a three year old girl from the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area of the city.

The girl’s mother said the man had picked up her daughter and started talking to her in an area near their house. The mother said she started yelling when she saw this happening and the man was detained by the area’s residents.  Police have lodged an FIR against the accused who has been identified as Haroon.

In his initial statement to the police, the accused said he was a drug addict and had come to the area from Sarjani Town at 3 AM to commit robbery when he was detained by residents and accused of being a kidnapper.

This development comes in the backdrop of a kidnapping panic gripping residents of Karachi. However these reports were termed rumors by Police Chief Mushtaq Maher.

In a statement the police chief said the high alert regarding widespread kidnapping of children and females by certain elements was not based on facts.

“There is no truth in children being in children being kidnapped systematically or in a planned way or dead bodies being recovered,” the police chief said.

He added that information pertaining to this was being spread with malafide intentions in an attempt to create panic in the minds of parents and to discredit the efforts of Police and Rangers. “Such unverified and untruthful information is vehemently denied as it is not based on facts”.

The police chief requested that people not pay any heed to such rumours.

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Protests in Gilgit Baltistan against Narendra Modi

Gilgit Baltistan’s legislative assembly on Friday condemned statements made by the Indian prime minister and unanimously passed a resolution against Modi’s statements.

The resolution termed Narendra Modi’s statements to be madness and an attempt to divert attention from the atrocities taking place in Kashmir. Every child in Gilgit Baltistan is ready to fight for the defense and security of Pakistan, the resolution added.

Protests erupted in different cities of Gilgit Baltistan on Friday against Narendra Modi’s statement. Students as well as the general public expressed their anger and raised slogans against the Indian prime minister.

Participants stressed that they were and will remain Pakistanis and that they were proud of their nationality. The participants added that Narendra Modi should be ashamed of speaking about Gilgit Baltistan when he is responsible for the atrocities in Kashmir.

The Deputy Speaker, Jafferullah Khan and Iqbal Hassan a member of the legislative assembly were also present in the protest.

Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address on Monday had said the people of Balochistan and GIlgit Baltistan have thanked him and that he is grateful to them.

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Photographer gets Jaya Bachchan's ire for taking pictures without permission

A student got Jaya Bachchan’s ire after he took her picture without her permission.

Jaya, who is never scared to speak her mind, was attending the Narsee Monjee annual festival in conservation with noted film critic Bhawana Somayaa.

Pictures that students in the audience at the Mumbai college took of her made Jaya tell them off. “Please stop taking pictures. I hate it because it’s right into my eyes. These are basic manners which we Indians have to learn. Just because you have a camera and a mobile, you have the freedom of take anyone’s picture anytime, without asking that person! These are basic educations that all colleges and schools and parents at home should teach their children. It’s very annoying. I have a freedom to say no from being photographed. I am trying to chat here. You are sitting right in front of me, clicking right into my eyes. I hate indiscipline,” an irritated Jaya said.

At one point she left the stage.  “Aap photo kheech lijiye phir main baat karungi.”

It didn’t stop here. “That’s why I never go to such functions because I am an extremely outspoken person... You have to show how professional you are by organizing it in a simple but in a good way. Basic courtesy is you ask, ‘do you mind if we call the press’, ‘do you mind if the pictures are taken’. I’m not against the media, I’m not against the media taking pictures. But there’s time for everything. I’m sorry for sounding like a great grandmother but that’s what I am.”

In 2013 Jaya made headlines when she told reporters off for calling her daughter-in-law by her first name Aishwarya. “Does she study in your class?” she told reporters.

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Twitter shuts down 360,000 accounts for 'promotion of terrorism'

Twitter Inc has shut down 360,000 accounts for threatening or promoting terrorist acts since the middle of 2015, the company said in a blog post on Thursday.

The microblogging platform has previously come under fire from Washington and third-party groups for not doing enough to stop accounts linked to Islamic State militants.

But, since February, it has suspended an additional 235,000 accounts, after halting 125,000 accounts since the middle of 2015, most of which were related to Islamic State.

Twitter said its daily suspensions of terrorism-linked accounts have jumped 80 percent since last year and that it has reduced its response time.

Watchdog groups praised Twitter´s swift response to online celebrations from Islamic extremists glorifying a July truck attack in Nice, France, that killed more than 80 people.

The company relies primarily on user reports to identify offending accounts, and said it has increased the size of the team reviewing reports.

Although it says an algorithm cannot identify extremist propaganda, it relies on spam-fighting tools to help identify repeat offenders, including those who create new accounts when they are suspended.

"Our work is not done," the blog post said, adding: "Our efforts continue to drive meaningful results, including a significant shift in this type of activity off of Twitter.

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Protests in Gilgit Baltistan against Narendra Modi

Gilgit Baltistan?s legislative assembly on Friday condemned statements made by the Indian prime minister and unanimously passed a resolution against Modi?s statements.

The resolution termed Narendra Modi?s statements to be madness and an attempt to divert attention from the atrocities taking place in Kashmir. Every child in Gilgit Baltistan is ready to fight for the defense and security of Pakistan, the resolution added.

Protests erupted in different cities of Gilgit Baltistan on Friday against Narendra Modi?s statement. Students as well as the general public expressed their anger and raised slogans against the Indian prime minister.

Participants stressed that they were and will remain Pakistanis and that they were proud of their nationality. The participants added that Narendra Modi should be ashamed of speaking about Gilgit Baltistan when he is responsible for the atrocities in Kashmir.

The Deputy Speaker, Jafferullah Khan and Iqbal Hassan a member of the legislative assembly were also present in the protest.

Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address on Monday had said the people of Balochistan and GIlgit Baltistan have thanked him and that he is grateful to them.

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Dream come true: Pakistani kid meets his hero John Cena

17-year-old Tanzil ur Rehman?s lifelong dream to meet his idol WWE superstar John Cena turned into an unforgettable reality when he traveled to the United States to attend a live RAW event, made possible by Make-A-Wish Foundation Pakistan.

Tanzil, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, is a diehard John Cena fan. Donning the cap of his hero and beaming, he guest-starred today on Geo Pakistan morning show where he shared the best memory of his life: the day he finally got to meet his idol.

Those were the ?most memorable 45 minutes of my life,? he told the show?s hosts Huma Amir and Usama Ghazi, proudly adding that he never misses any of John?s matches.

Tanzil attended WWE RAW on July 4, US Independence Day, with his family where he met John Cena and talked to his hero about his matches.

Tanzil gifted John Cena a Sindhi topi (hat) and ajrak (a cultural cloth) as a souvenir from Pakistan.

Founding president of Make-A-Wish Pakistan Ishtiaq Baig, present with the kid on the show, said Tanzil?s wish was the most difficult and unique one the foundation had ever had to fulfill.

When the foundation discovered the kid and his wish, Ishtiaq Baig wrote a letter to John Cena.

?John Cena?s secretary responded immediately. Despite his busy schedule, John wanted to meet Tanzil,? Ishtiaq said.

The president was full of praise for the icon, who has been WWE champion and World Heavyweight champion several times. John Cena has also starred in Hollywood movies and reality TV shows.

He said he found John to be a very nice and friendly man. ?It was a proud moment for us, we were representing Pakistan there, the whole world was watching,? Ishtiaq said, adding that it helped with Pakistan?s image as well.

Make-A-Wish is a non-profit organization that arranges experiences it describes as "wishes" for children with life-threatening illnesses. Make-A-Wish Pakistan has been operating in the country for 10 years.

?When he met Tanzil, John said he now wanted to come to Pakistan because he had no idea he had so many fans there,? Ishtiaq said.

 ?Who knows, you might have John Cena on your show next!? he said with a smile.

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I stabbed women because I hated them, Rawalpindi knife attacker makes horrifying confession

RAWALPINDI: He stabbed women because he hated them. Police on Friday got to the bottom of the mysterious stabbing attacks on women which occurred after the dark.

After getting the culprit wrong thrice, police finally got the right man. The accused Muhammad Ali told police that he hates women because his stepmother had mistreated him as a child, and he had been rejected by a woman he claimed to have loved.

?I did not want to kill anyone. I had no accomplices,? he said in a police statement he recorded.

?Stabbing women gave me peace of mind,? he said.

Residents of Morgah Police Station limits were scared out of their wits after stabbing attacks on women after dark began to rise.

Since February 32 women have been attacked while one of them has died in these stabbing incidents.

All of the attacks took place in the limits of Morgah police station, which include Kot Kalian and Rabia Bungalows.

In the latest attack, the accused reportedly stabbed a nurse to death and injured two others.  

Around 25 women were injured with a knife-like object in the first three weeks of February this year.

 

 

 

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I stabbed women because I hated them, Rawalpindi knife attacker makes horrifying confession

RAWALPINDI: He stabbed women because he hated them. Police on Friday got to the bottom of the mysterious stabbing attacks on women which occurred after the dark.

After getting the culprit wrong thrice, police finally got the right man. The accused Muhammad Ali told police that he hates women because his stepmother had mistreated him as a child, and he had been rejected by a woman he claimed to have loved.

“I did not want to kill anyone. I had no accomplices,” he said in a police statement he recorded.

“Stabbing women gave me peace of mind,” he said.

Residents of Morgah Police Station limits were scared out of their wits after stabbing attacks on women after dark began to rise.

Since February 32 women have been attacked while one of them has died in these stabbing incidents.

All of the attacks took place in the limits of Morgah police station, which include Kot Kalian and Rabia Bungalows.

In the latest attack, the accused reportedly stabbed a nurse to death and injured two others.  

Around 25 women were injured with a knife-like object in the first three weeks of February this year.

 

 

 

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Ban Ki-moon condemns killing of Kashmiris, urges India-Pak dialogue

NEW YORK: Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon on Friday slammed the killing of Kashmiri protesters by Indian troops in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

In response to the letter written by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in which PM Nawaz had asked the UN chief to take notice of the killing of Kashmiris in occupied Kashmir, Ban Ki-moon urged a stop to the atrocities and asked for India-Pak dialogue on the Kashmir issue.

“India and Pakistan should solve the conflict of Kashmir together," he wrote in his response.

He also offered cooperation to facilitate a solution to the problem. "The United Nations is ready to offer its services for that to happen," he wrote.

Ban Ki-moon appreciated Pakistan's role in maintaining peace in the region. He also lauded Pakistan’s efforts to solve the Kashmir issue in a peaceful manner.

“Resolution of the Kashmir issue is imperative for regional peace,” he wrote.

The UN chief also expressed desire to meet PM Nawaz Sharif in the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting.

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