Wednesday, February 12th, 2020
Supreme Court directs ML-1 project to be completed in two years
ISLAMABAD, FEB 12 (DNA) : The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the government to complete the ML-1 project in two years and the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) within three months. The Supreme Court gave the orders during the hearing of a case pertaining to the losses incurred by Pakistan Railways. Minister of Railways Shaikh Rasheed Ahmed and Minister for Planning Asad Umar were present during today’s hearing. Speaking to the media after the hearing, the railways minister said railways could not be fixed until the completion of ML-I. “ML-I isRead More
Japan cruise ship coronavirus cases climb to 175, including quarantine officer
TOKYO, FEB 12 (DNA) : Another 39 people have tested positive for the coronavirus on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan as well as one quarantine officer, bringing the total to 175, the health ministry said on Wednesday. The Diamond Princess was placed in quarantine for two weeks upon arriving in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, on Feb. 3, after a man who disembarked in Hong Kong was diagnosed with the virus. The epidemic originated in mainland China, where more than 1,100 people have now died from the virus.Read More
US-Taliban on brink of breakthrough as Ghani reports progress
KABUL, FEB 12 (DNA) : The US and the Taliban appeared closer on Wednesday to a breakthrough in talks over the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said there had been “notable progress” in negotiations. Washington and the insurgents have been locked in gruelling discussions that have stretched over more than a year for a deal that would see the US pull thousands of troops out of Afghanistan. In return, the Taliban would provide various security guarantees and launch eventual talks with the Kabul government.Read More
Pakistan, IMF mull over keeping petroleum levy up to meet revenue target
ISLAMABAD, FEB 12 (DNA) : Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday explored the possibilities to increase the non-tax revenue mainly by keeping the petroleum levy on the higher side in order to compensate for an expected reduction in the revenue shortfall. The finalisation of such fiscal arrangement can pave the way for evolving consensus on striking a staff-level agreement at the conclusion of parleys on February 13. Pakistan desires pitching the Federal Bureau of Revenue’s (FBR) revised target in the range of slightly over Rs4.8 trillion againstRead More
Asad Umar directs for early finalizing of ML1 financing works
ISLAMABAD, FEB 12 (DNA) : Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar asked the Financing Committee of Railways Mainline ML1 project to expedite its work by engaging with the Chinese side to finalize terms and conditions of financing of the project. The financing committee for the project was constituted by the Planning Commission which has been looking into the modalities for implementation of the project with the regard to the terms and conditions of the financing. The committee had already asked Economic Affairs Division (EAD) to advice theRead More
Tiger Woods still in shock more than two weeks after Kobe Bryant’s death
LOS ANGELES: More than two weeks after Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash, Tiger Woods is among those who find the shock may have worn off but disbelief remains. “It´s hard to put into words what transpired and the fact that it´s a reality,” 15-time major golf champion Woods said Tuesday at Riviera Country Club, where he is preparing to tee off Thursday in the Genesis Invitational. “Part of me thinks that it´s not real.” The 41-year-old Bryant, a retired NBA legend with the Los Angeles Lakers, and hisRead More