Monday, December 28th, 2015
If criminals can run the country why can’t Amir play cricket? Khan
KARACHI: Legendary Pakistan allrounder Imran Khan said he backs convicted spot-fixer Mohammad Amir’s return to international cricket, urging sceptical players and fans to support the tainted paceman. The 23-year-old Amir, who completed his five-year ban earlier this year, caused a stir last week when he turned up for fitness camp for prospective national players, with former Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez and current one-day captain Azhar Ali boycotting training Friday. Left-armer Amir is tipped to be selected for next month’s limited-overs tour of New Zealand, almost six years after he andRead More
At least 14 killed in bomb blasts in Syria’s Homs
DAMASCUS: At least 14 people were killed and dozens more wounded in large bomb blasts on Monday in the regime-held central Syrian city of Homs, state media reported. “The preliminary toll in simultaneous terrorist explosions that hit the city’s Al-Zahraa neighbourhood is 14 dead and 132 wounded,” state television reported in a news flash. It said two explosions caused by car bombs and a blast caused by a suicide attacker wearing an explosives-laden belt hit Al-Zahraa’s main square. The residents of Al-Zahraa are mostly Alawites, the minority sect of Syria’sRead More
4th JF-17 Thunder squadron complete as PAC rolls out 16th aircraft
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) on Monday rolled out the 16th Block 2 JF-17 aircraft and formally handed it over to the Pakistan Air force (PAF), marking the completion of four squadrons. Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman attended the ceremony, with Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain attending as the chief guest. Hussain reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment towards promoting self-reliance in defence production and thanked the government of China for its unrelenting support. “I appreciate the vital role played by our time-tested Chinese friends forRead More
Gunmen kill anti-polio volunteer in Afghanistan
KANDAHAR: Two gunmen on a motorbike shot and killed a female polio vaccination campaigner in Afghanistan on Monday and seriously wounded her granddaughter, officials said. No group claimed responsibility for the attack but militants in some parts of the world believe campaigns against the crippling disease are a plot against Muslims, or an attempt to spy on militants. The pair, a woman and her teenage granddaughter, were polio eradication-campaign volunteers, going house to house in the southern city of Kandahar when they were shot, said senior provincial health official AbdulRead More
Anti-polio drive resumes in Swabi despite security fears
PESHAWAR: A three-day anti-polio drive kicked off in Swabi on Monday, resuming the region’s anti-polio campaign which was cancelled due to security concerns last week. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Health Department said 260,000 children will be vaccinated during the campaign. According to the Swabi police, tight security measures have been taken in the district: 629 mobiles have been deployed for the anti-polio campaign, which will be run by 59 fixed teams, 25 transit teams and four roaming teams. On Nov 30, Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) District Coordinator Dr. YaqoobRead More
PM Nawaz left Karachi without discussing Rangers issue
KARACHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in Karachi on Monday, accompanied by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Water and Power and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Trade and Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir, but left without meeting the chief minister or the governor on the issue of Rangers’ powers. Earlier, circles close to the PML-N appeared optimistic that Sharif will hold a meeting with Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad on the discord between the centre and Sindh over Rangers’ powers. An official press release about the premier’s visit had said: “PM Nawaz SharifRead More