MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Thursday a new U.S. military strategy was confrontational and would not help improve relations with Moscow, strained by the crisis in Ukraine. The strategy, released by the Pentagon on Wednesday, said Russia had repeatedly demonstrated it does not respect the sovereignty of its neighbors and that it was willing to use force to achieve its goals. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed regret about the content of the document and said it indicated a "confrontational attitude, devoid of any objectivity towards our country". "Of course this will hardly contribute to attempts to steer bilateral relations in the direction of normalization," he told reporters during a conference call. R...
July 2, 2015 at 3:24 pm | News Desk
HAVANA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and Cuba formally agreed on Wednesday to restore diplomatic relations on July 20, setting up a trip to Havana by John Kerry, who would become the first U.S. secretary of state to visit the country in 70 years. Sealed by an exchange of letters between U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro, the deal fulfills a pledge the former Cold War enemies made six months ago. It also attempts to end the recriminations that have predominated ever since Fidel Castro's rebels overthrew the U.S.-backed government of Fulgencio Batista on Jan. 1, 1959. The letters set a date of July 20 for the re-establishment of relations, and embassies could be opened at that time or later. Kerry...
July 2, 2015 at 3:17 pm | News Desk
Although date palm is a developing industry in Pakistan, the country is already one of the largest producers of this fruit crop in the world. And in the business of producing dates, the city of Khairpur holds a very significant place. Khairpur’s village economy is based on date palm processing and export; this is a source of employment not only for the villagers in Khairpur but also residents of nearby cities, who migrate to the district to work during the crop harvest season. Most of the workers are men, though, with only a small number of women seen working in farms, and that too, the more aged ones. As in other parts of Pakistan, young women’s economic independence in this region is also subject to patriarchal authority; th...
July 2, 2015 at 10:56 am | News Desk
KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to conduct inquiry against such businesses and industrial units which have deposited less tax this year as compared to the previous year. Sources in Regional Tax Office told Customs Today that the department has finalized 112 industrial units and these lists are already sent to the field offices. Sources further revealed that these units deposited less sales tax and the federal excise duty during this fiscal year as compared to the previous year, despite increase in their sales. Sources said that their statements will be thoroughly scrutinized and all information and statements submitted by these units will be examined by auditors. Sources further said that if these units found i...
June 29, 2015 at 2:41 pm | News Desk
Stock markets in Europe and Asia have seen big falls after Greece closed its banks and imposed capital controls. The moves by the Greek authorities came after the European Central Bank decided not to extend emergency funding. London's FTSE 100 index fell 2% in early trade. Earlier in Asia, Japan's Nikkei index fell nearly 3%. On the currency markets, the euro had fallen to $1.0953 at one point in Asian trading from $1.1165 on Friday, but it then recovered some ground. Elsewhere in Europe, Germany's Dax share index and France's Cac 40 were both down more than 3%. The Athens Stock Exchange and Greek banks are closed all week. Greek contagion The euro has weakened against the British pound, as investors worry about the singl...
June 29, 2015 at 2:20 pm | News Desk
As part of a three-year loan programme, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has given nod to release around $506 million for Pakistan. In a statement issued in Washington, the IMF said the tranche was released after the board completed the seventh review of Pakistan's economic performance under Extended Fund Facility (EFF), an IMF lending facility to help members with balance of payments problems. With the release of the latest tranche, the total amount so far disbursed to Pakistan comes to about $4.05 billion dollars. This will take the country's foreign exchange reserves to $18.7 billion dollars, Radio Pakistan reported.
June 28, 2015 at 9:38 pm | News Desk
Moments after the Supreme Court ruled Friday that same-sex marriage is legal nationwide, Rachel Evans and her girlfriend Kelly Gleischman jumped into an Uber and headed straight into the festive commotion outside the court building in Washington to be a part of history. They were brimming with joy as they were greeted by a crowd of smiling faces and a sea of rainbow-colored flags, celebrating the monumental victory for gay rights advocates. “It felt like our futures have opened up in a new way,” 29-year-old Evans said. The couple has been together for two-and-a-half years and plan to wed in 2016. With the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize marriage for same-sex couples, the two women are excited that their future marriage will...
June 28, 2015 at 9:32 pm | News Desk
ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) investigation team probing the heatwave deaths in Karachi has cleared K-Electric of any liability, sources said on Sunday. Nepra in its report has said that the deaths have been caused by the intense weather and not load shedding. The regulatory authority went on to say that the victims were mostly those people who were exposed to the open sky and severe heat. The report further says that the power outages in the city have increased due to the rise in demand. The investigation team will present its initial report to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif tomorrow (Monday).
June 28, 2015 at 9:21 pm | News Desk
ISLAMABAD: A team from Britain's Scotland Yard (London Metropolitan Police) arrived in Islamabad on Saturday in relation to the investigation of the murder of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr Imran Farooq. Islamabad had requested that a team visit Pakistan and assist in an ongoing investigation into the murder case as under way in Pakistan. The team is also expected to be taken to meet suspects who are in custody of Pakistani authorities. The team is scheduled to start its investigation from Monday and will carry out its operations under high security. Earlier this week, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had said that the accused said to be linked to the murder of Dr Farooq would be brought to Islamabad where Britis...
June 28, 2015 at 1:59 pm | News Desk
Welcome to the June 2015 edition of Economic Affairs magazine. This edition, as you will note, comprises of more articles than usual, covering a wide variety of topics, domestic and global. This month, our cover story features the intricate operations devised by India's external intelligence agency, Research And Analysis Wing (RAW). Some well-documented proof points in the direction that RAW is quite actively involved in meddling in matters on Pakistani soil. This elaborate network set up by RAW involves structures which are present not only in Pakistan but also in Afghanistan, operating through multi-tiered organizations. The purpose is clear: create terror within Pakistan, a premise which is well-documented b...
June 28, 2015 at 1:07 pm | News Desk
Initially, executions in Pakistan were carried out for terrorism related charges. However, in the wake of the Peshawar tragedy, the government of Pakistan decided to lift the moratorium on the10th. of March of this year and reinstated the heinous punishment for all death penalty offences. The PPP lead coalition government in 2008 placed a moratorium on executions following pressure on the government by the European Union and human rights’ groups. On the 21st.of April, 17 inmates were executed in Pakistan, the highest number of executions in a single day since reversing of the country’s self-imposed ban on the death penalty in December after the Peshawar massacre that took more than 140 innocent lives. The prisoners were executed in ...
June 25, 2015 at 11:18 am | News Desk
The UK's decision to stop subsidising new onshore wind farms will make it harder to meet renewable energy targets, the EU's climate chief says. Miguel Arias Canete said the EU had already calculated that the UK was not on track to meet legally binding goals. Asked by EA if the wind decision would make the task harder he replied: "Of course". His officials have expressed bemusement at the decision to end subsidies for onshore wind energy a year early. They said onshore wind was by far the cheapest way to hit the target of 15% of all energy from renewables from 2020. 'Mind-boggling' The SNP estimate the change will cost bill payers up to three billion pounds. After a media briefing on climate policy at the European Commission, one ...
June 24, 2015 at 6:05 pm | News Desk
ISLAMABAD: The office of International Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) ‘Save the Children’ in Islamabad has been reopened on Wednesday after the interior ministry conditionally allowed it to work for six months. ‘Save the Children’ operations in Pakistan were halted on June 11 and its Islamabad office was sealed for its alleged involvement in anti-state activities. A statement issued by the district administration said today that the decision to reopen some of the NGO’s offices has been taken by high officials at the Ministry of Interior. Sources in the interior ministry said that 13 out 73 offices of the NGO have been allowed to operate in Pakistan except the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA), Balochista...
June 24, 2015 at 4:15 pm | News Desk
KARACHI: Is Karachi experiencing climate change? Where is all this heat coming from? How can the heat kill people in hundreds? Baffled Karachiites are wondering what is happening to the weather patterns in their city but the recent heat wave may not have come as unannounced as some of us think. Scientists have warned for some time now that heat waves will become more frequent and intense due to climate change, yet the government is yet to recognise this impending threat. Death toll from the ongoing heat wave across Karachi, which was amplified by high humidity, load-shedding and low water consumption as people are fasting, has now risen to above 700. Currently, hundreds of patients suffering from heat stroke and heat exhaustion are...
June 24, 2015 at 4:04 pm | News Desk
Pakistan's prime minister called for emergency measures as the death toll from a heatwave in southern Sindh province topped 450. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said it had received orders from Nawaz Sharif to undertake immediate response measures. The army has also been deployed to set up heat stroke centres and assist the NDMA, it added. Many of the victims are elderly people from low income families. Health officials say many deaths have been in the largest city, Karachi, which has experienced temperatures as high as 45C (113F) in recent days. Hundreds of patients suffering from the effects of the heatwave are being treated at government hospitals, provincial health secretary Saeed Mangnejo said. The demand for el...
June 23, 2015 at 3:11 pm | News Desk
JERUSALEM: The flamboyant wife of Israeli Interior Minister Silvan Shalom published an “inappropriate joke” on Sunday about US President Barack Obama on her Twitter account, only to later delete it and apologise. “Do u know what Obama Coffee is? Black and weak,” Judy Shalom Nir-Mozes wrote to her 74,400 followers. Online shock, condemnation and accusations of racism later led her to delete the incriminating tweet. “I apologize, that was a stupid joke somebody told me,” she wrote on her @JudyMozes Twitter account in English. “President Obama I shouldnt have written the inappropriate joke I heard”, she also wrote, addressing the US leader directly. “I like people no matter about their race and religion”. “Sor...
June 23, 2015 at 2:42 pm | News Desk
KARACHI: Agriculture credit disbursement by banks increased by 31.40 per cent to Rs439.8 billion during the first 11 months (July-May) of the outgoing fiscal year as compared to Rs334.7bn in the same period last year. The banks so far achieved 88 per cent of their combined target of Rs500bn set for 2014-15, said the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday. The outstanding portfolio of agriculture loans also surged by 15.52pc (Rs43bn) to Rs320.1bn from Rs277.1bn in the same period last year. The SBP said that the performance of five major banks as a group remained satisfactory, as they disbursed Rs229.3bn (90.8pc) of their annual target and two specialised banks (ZTBL and PPCBL) disbursed Rs86.8bn (85.4pc) of their combined target of Rs101...
June 23, 2015 at 2:37 pm | News Desk
NEW DELHI: India has placed the Catholic charity Caritas on a government watch list, an official and news reports said Tuesday, in a growing crackdown on foreign organisations operating in the country. A home ministry official told AFP that Caritas had violated India's foreign funding laws by financing groups that were working “against the country”. He said Caritas had been placed on a list of organisations needing prior government approval to receive or distribute funds in India, a move also reported by the Indian Express daily. “There was clear violation of foreign funding law,” said the official, who asked not to be named, citing funding for groups which protested against a nuclear plant in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. T...
June 23, 2015 at 2:30 pm | News Desk
TEHRAN: Iran's parliament passed a bill on Tuesday obliging the government to safeguard the country's “nuclear rights and achievements,” despite talks with global powers on curbing the Islamic republic's disputed atomic programme. The measure was met by anger from President Hassan Rouhani's government, with a spokesman saying the draft law was unconstitutional as it contravened the country's defence and security policies. The bill's adoption reflects tension between Rouhani, a moderate who aims to end Iran's diplomatic isolation, and a conservative-dominated legislature, where hardliners often dispute the worth of negotiations with the West. The bill, which still has to be signed into law by Iran's Guardian Council, says the governme...
June 23, 2015 at 2:21 pm | News Desk
UNITED NATIONS: Reaffirming its commitment to eliminate all terrorists “without distinction,” top Pakistani diplomat Maleeha Lodhi warned of a forceful response to any attempt to destabilise parts of Pakistan or to attack its territorial integrity. “Let me be clear: we will be relentless in rooting out terrorism, whosoever its sponsors, external or internal,” Ambassador Lodhi told the UN Security Council on Monday. “Any effort to destabilise parts of our country or to attack its territorial integrity will be responded to forcefully,” the Pakistan envoy said in a debate on the situation in Afghanistan. Acknowledging that terrorism remained a common challenge, she told the 15-member council that Pakistan had condemned the recen...
June 23, 2015 at 2:12 pm | News Desk