5 natural ways to prevent lung cancer

Intense coughing, blood covered phlegm, weight loss, fatigue and breathing problems etc are just few of the symptoms of lung cancer. Did you know that lung cancer causes more death than the other cancers combined? The scary disease is not easy to diagnose as it doesn’t have any early symptoms and while smoking is the major reason for its existence, lung cancer is triggered by other things too. In fact symptoms differ for every person. In lung cancer, abnormal cells cluster and grow out uncontrollably to from a tumour. And while there are many types of treatments available for the treatment of lung cancer such as surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy etc, differing for different patients, it is best to avoid the disease altogether. Here are 5 easy tips to prevent lung cancer.

Keep checking for radon Radon is an odourless gas that builds from decaying uranium in the soil. It has been found to be the leading cause of lung cancer amongst non-smokers.

Drink green tea People who drink green tea have been found to be at lower risk of getting lung cancer. Green tea may prevent some of the damage to the cells caused by smoking.

Stay away from second hand smoke Passive smoking is nearly as bad as smoking. Intake of second hand smoke can increase our chances of getting lung cancer by 25-30%. Steer clear of people who smoke or help them quit.

Exercise and yoga 30 minutes of exercise everyday can help you greatly. Perform yoga that benefits the lungs.

Stop smoking Smoking causes lung cancer, in fact it is responsible for 80-90% of lung cancers. Quit smoking now!

MH370 crash: NO survivors; emotional outbursts, howls for relatives of passengers

An emotional outburst overwhelmed the relatives of passengers on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 after reports of the plane plunging into Indian Ocean came down crashing around them on Monday. Women howled and sobbed uncontrollably, while men embraced up their loved ones who were on the brim of collapsing. The Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Rajak, said in a press conference that the flight plunged in the Indian Ocean, ending over two weeks of its mysterious disappearance. The Telegraph reports: He said new analysis by Britain’s Air Accidents Investigation Brach team and British satellite telecommunications company Inmarsat revealed that the plane ended its baffling eight-hour flight in the deep, remote waters of the Indian Ocean, about 1500 miles from Perth. Relatives of passengers in Beijing had been called to a hotel near the airport to hear the announcement. Afterward, they filed out of a conference room in heart-wrenching grief. That first definitive information about the whereabouts of the passenger jet that vanished 17 days ago is based on analysis from Inmarsat of satellite data, Razak said. The flight that mysteriously vanished into “thin air” over South China Sea 17 days ago gave way to a score of theories and myths too.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Raj Babbar loses cool, slams cops for videographing him

Ghaziabad: A livid Congress candidate Raj Babbar on Monday lashed out at cops for videoraphing him during his campaign in Vijay Nagar area of Ghaziabad here. Actor-turned-politician Babbar, the congress candidate for Ghaziabad Lok Sabha constituency, lost his cool when he was addressing a gathering in a house located in Vijay Nagar area. When Babbar was speaking to local residents, he noticed some policemen, including a sub-inspector, videographing him which made him angry. "Jo aparad karne wale hain, unko to rokenge nahi.. Sharam nahi aati hai inko.. Aye din Ghaziabad ka naam badnam ho raha..Topi aur wardi pahane ke ghum rahen hain ye log (They (policemen) don't nab those involved in crime...They should be ashamed of themselves. The image of Ghaziabad is deteriorating day by day, despite this they wear the uniform," Babbar said. Babbar said that he was not a criminal that policemen should videograph him during campaigning. "Can I not appeal for votes in a house?, Am I a thief or criminal? And is any case against me? So, why have they come to videograph me?" he asked. Meanwhine, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Ghaziabad Dharmendra Singh said that an investigation into this matter has been ordered. "We have seen video of the whole event. We have ordered a probe into this matter. If Raj Babbar is found guilty, strict action would be taken against him," SSP told PTI. On Sunday, an FIR was also lodged against BSP candidate from Ghaziabad Mukul Upadhyay for using loudspeakers at a meeting in Nasirpur in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

Advertisement Malaysia Airlines jet MH370 crashed into Indian Ocean

New Delhi/Kuala Lumpur: Ending over two weeks of mystery over the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, reports on Monday said that the jet with 290 passengers on board, plunged into the India Ocean.

IMF releases $555.6 million third tranche to Pakistan

WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved Monday a fresh aid disbursement to Pakistan after the country passed the second review of its ongoing $6.8 billion support program. The IMF immediately freed $555.6 million for the country, with the money helping the government bridge financing gaps while it undertakes fiscal reforms required under the program. It was the third tranche of the three-year program, approved in September 2013, which required the government to implement strict economic reforms, particularly in its troubled energy sector and tax system. The review followed the resignation at the end of January of the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Yaseen Anwar, after what were widely reported as policy differences with the government. In the last fiscal year, Pakistan's economy grew at 3.6 per cent and inflation fell to single digits. But the central bank has warned inflation could surge this year. Economists say growth needs to be seven per cent to absorb the country's booming population

No way to block internet content, NA told

ISLAMABAD: The government has admitted that there is no technical way to block all objectionable content on the internet. In a written reply to a lawmaker’s query, the National Assembly was informed on Monday that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had carried out a search for objectionable material on the internet and blocked 31,819 such websites. But, the authority said, it was impossible to filter out all sites offering offensive material. Begum Tahira Bukhari of the PML-N had submitted the query, seeking an answer from the PTA if any proposal was being considered to unblock YouTube. The video sharing website was banned in September 2012. The minister in charge of the cabinet division recalled that after the blasphemous movie “Innocence of Muslims” was uploaded in September 2012, the then government had to block the site because Google, the owner of YouTube, refused to remove the film. In background interviews, PTA officials said the authority had repeatedly told the government that technically it was not possible to block offensive movies even if multi-million dollar filters were used. A PTA official recalled how the PPP government in December 2012 restored YouTube after taking precautionary measures but had to block it again within 24 hours because of media reports about the presence of the film on the website. The best possible solution which other Muslim countries had put in place was an automatic warning which informed a viewer trying to watch such material about the nature of the content, he said. Pakistan has also placed the warning on the internet. “Although the PTA has banned YouTube, computer users can access it through unsecured sites,” he admitted.

Musharraf moves SC, seeks trial by military court

ISLAMABAD: Former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf filed in the Supreme Court on Monday a petition challenging the Special Court’s Feb 21 decision of going ahead with the high treason trial against him instead of referring it to a military court. The Special Court, headed by Justice Faisal Arab of the Sindh High Court, had dismissed Mr Musharraf’s application seeking trial by a military court under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) 1952. The rejection was earlier challenged in the Islamabad High Court which on March 19 ruled that only the Supreme Court had the jurisdiction to decide the matter. The petition in the apex court was filed by Gen Musharraf’s lawyers Sharifuddin Pirzada, Dr Khalid Ranjha, Anwar Mansoor Khan and Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif. The court has been asked to accept the plea and declare illegal and unlawful the Feb 21 judgment of the Special Court constituted under the Criminal Law Amendment (Special Courts) Act, 1976. The Special Court should be directed not to proceed with the trial, it said. In his petition, Gen Musharraf contended that at the time of proclaiming the emergency on Nov 3, 2007, he was serving as a regular member of the armed forces and that the alleged offense of high treason attributed to him was triable only under the PAA 1952, a law also framed by parliament as much as the High Treason Punishment Act 1973 and the Special Courts Act 1976. The Special Court, Gen Musharraf pleaded, had taken a totally erroneous view of Sections 1, 7 and 92 of the PAA to arrogate to itself the authority to try him and lost sight of the facts that retired army officers, Khalid Muneer Khan, Gen Muzaffar Afzal and Gen Khalid Zaheer, at different times before their retirement, served as directors general in the NLC. Their cases for misappropriation were withdrawn from the National Accountability Bureau and sought to be tried by the court martial. “Applying the rule of consistency and taking protection under Article 25 read with Article 4 of the Constitution, the petitioner’s case should have been sent to the military court,” the petition argued. Gen Musharraf said the decision to proclaim the emergency for all intents and purposes had been taken by the government of the day. The decision at best and at worst was departure from Article 209 (Supreme Judicial Council) of the Constitution. “The governments many times act in disregard of constitutional provisions and so do the members of the judiciary. A government cannot be arraigned by a subsequent government under Article 6 on that account,” he said. He said filing of the criminal complaint by the federal government was coram non judice (without jurisdiction) as there was no decision for the filing of the complaint, under article 90 or for his trial to the exclusion of all those who were privy to the Nov 3 decision.

Govt imposes 17pc sales tax on gas to CNG stations

ISLAMABAD: The government has levied a sales tax of 17 per cent on the supply of natural gas to CNG stations and distribution companies. An ordinance to this effect was promulgated by President Mamnoon Hussain on Sunday, a day before the start of the National Assembly session. The ordinance will be known as the Sales Tax Amendment Ordinance 2014. Through the ordinance the government has amended the Sales Tax Act 1990. Petroleum Secretary Abid Saeed expressed ignorance about the ordinance, saying that he had not been consulted. The President of CNG Stations’ Association, Ghayas Paracha, condemned the ordinance, terming it a violation of the Supreme Court’s order in the case on sales tax.

Govt urged to avert Walt Disney blacklisting

FAISALABAD: Entrepreneurs have urged the government to go all out to keep Pakistan on the list of Walt Disney Company, who is going to blacklist country by 31st of this month because of different deficiencies. Walt Disney, a US licensor of Disney-branded consumer products, is dropping Pakistan from the Permitted Sourcing Countries list as the country failed to allay its concerns regarding certain UN standards. Pakistan is ranked low on World Governance Index (WGI). The production of Walt Disney in Pakistan through its different licensors is about $200 million. The chairman of Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA), Sheikh Ilyas Mahmood, feared that removal of Pakistan from Permitted Sourcing Countries list would buffet the textile exports of Pakistan. He said the decision of Walt Disney would also prompt other big retailers like WalMart, Macys, Sears, Target, Kmart, Kohls, Gap, JC Penny and others to disconnect their business ties with Pakistan. Mr Mahmood feared that the blacklisting would cost Pakistan millions of dollars leading to closure of countless medium and small units rendering thousands of workers jobless. In a letter sent to the International Labour Organisation, the PTEA mentioned that effects of Walt Disney directive would lead towards unemployment of more than 25,000 workers (revenue of $5,000 equals 1 employee), who are currently accommodating their families, maintaining a minimum standard of living. Together, around a quarter million people in terms of the workers families will fall below poverty line, he said, adding that there will be compound loss of over $500m. Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Vice President Azhar Majeed Sheikh said that a minimum of 25 points were required to qualify, however, Pakistan could get only 19 points and was declared ineligible. He said the government and industry must join hands to tackle the situation as soon as possible. The government had been talking about enhancing the export to $25 billion, but Instead of increasing the exports we are losing our buyers, he added. Walt Disney Company claims to be the world’s largest provider of licences, since consumer products of Disney brand are being produced by thousands of independent vendors working in numerous manufacturing facilities around the world. Walt Disney Company has made changes to its sourcing guidelines that will improve management to meet the challenges associated with a complex global supply chain.

ISI director general summoned in missing person case

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday summoned the director general of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) in a missing person case. Justice Riaz Ahmed Khan directed the ISI chief to appear before the court next week in response to a petition filed by Parveen Bibi, the spouse of Mohammad Arif, who went missing early last month. Mr Arif owned two branches of ‘Dar-i-Arqam’ School in Iqbal Town and Dhamial Camp of Rawalpindi. He is also the owner of a printing press located in Hathi Chowk in Rawalpindi Saddar. The petition stated that Mr Arif, a resident of Peshawar Road in Rawalpindi Cantonment, went to Khushab along with Ishtiaq Ahmed Aasi, the secretary general of the Pakistan Railways Mazdoor Union, Dr Uzair and Hafiz Rauf to condole the death of a friend there. However, the four people were allegedly picked by ISI in Khushab. After a couple of weeks, Mr Aasi and Mr Uzair returned to their homes. The petitioner claimed that the relatives of the two released men informed her that the ISI had allegedly picked the four from Khushab. In February, Ms Parveen through her counsel Zafarul Hassan Joya filed the habeas corpus petition with the IHC. She cited the ministry of interior and the ISI director general as the respondents. Initially, Justice Khan issued notices to the respondents and directed them to trace the whereabouts of the missing person. The judge also directed the ISI chief to depute an official to apprise the court of the progress on the matter. On Monday, when Justice Khan resumed the hearing of the matter, standing counsel Raja Khalid informed him that the interior ministry was seeking six weeks’ time for submitting a report about the missing man. The judge, however, rejected the plea on the grounds that it was the matter of the liberty of a citizen. He also noticed the absence of the ISI representative and directed the director general of the intelligence agency to appear in person before the court on the next date of hearing. During the hearing, the counsel for the petitioner said under the law the spy agency cannot pick any suspect without bringing it into the knowledge of his family. It may be noted that last week Justice Ijaz Ahmed of Lahore High Court (LHC)s’ Rawalpindi bench also issued notices to the directors general of the ISI and the Military Intelligence (MI) on a petition seeking the recovery of another missing person. The petition said Khan Badshah, a businessman, and his brother Dr Naik Bakht Badshah, residents of Wah Cantonment, went missing from their house on March 21, 2013. Dr Badshah was released after a couple of months but Khan Badshah is still under the alleged custody of the intelligence agencies.

Pakistan rejects 'disturbing' Afghan attack claims

SLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday said it was “highly disturbing” to see attempts being made to implicate it in an attack on a Kabul hotel that left nine civilians dead, including an AFP journalist. Afghanistan said on Sunday that the attack on Kabul’s Hotel Serena was planned “outside the country”, in a veiled reference to Pakistan. The National Security Council (NSC), which is chaired by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, also alleged that a Pakistani diplomat was seen scoping out the corridors of the Serena hotel ahead of the Thursday night raid. “It is highly disturbing that attempts are being made to somehow implicate Pakistan in this terrorist incident. We reject the insinuation,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam said in a statement. “The tendency to immediately blame Pakistan is unhelpful and should be discarded.” She said Pakistan has already condemned the attack, which claimed many innocent lives. “A Pakistani national has also sustained serious injuries and remains under treatment,” she added. Pakistan was the main supporter of the former Taliban regime in Afghanistan, and Afghan officials have long voiced suspicions about connections between the hardline movement and Islamabad’s powerful intelligence services. The NSC said the attack on the hotel, which was carried out by four teenage gunmen and claimed by the Taliban, was in fact the work of “foreign intelligence services” — a phrase normally meant to mean neighbouring Pakistan. “Witness testimony and preliminary information analysis shows that this terrorist attack was directly executed or carried out by foreign intelligence services outside the country,” the council said in a statement. “Another information of the NDS (National Directorate of Security) shows that earlier when one Pakistani diplomat entered the Kabul-Serena hotel to use its sport club, he filmed the corridors of the hotel which the hotel staff raised objections to,” it added. The NDS is Afghanistan’s main intelligence agency. The victims of Thursday’s attack included AFP journalist Sardar Ahmad, his wife and two of their three children, along with another Afghan and four foreigners — two Canadians, an American and a Paraguayan. The couple''s youngest son, two-year-old Abuzar, survived with bullet wounds to the head, chest and leg and remained in intensive care on Sunday. Afghanistan made a similar allegation following a deadly restaurant bombing in Kabul in January that killed 21 people including 13 foreigners. The latest accusation could damage relations with Pakistan, which is battling its own homegrown Taliban insurgency and is seen as crucial to encouraging the Afghan Taliban to open talks. Many Afghan Taliban leaders seek shelter in Pakistan, and Islamabad’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency is often accused of maintaining ties to the militants to ensure future influence in Afghanistan after US-led Nato troops withdraw.

West cancels Russia's G8 summit over Ukraine crisis

THE HAGUE: President Barack Obama and top economic powers cancelled an upcoming G8 summit in Russia, seeking to deepen Moscow's isolation over its intervention in the Ukraine crisis. After emergency talks called by Obama, it was announced that the G8 summit in Sochi in June would be replaced by a G7 meeting in Brussels, without Russian involvement. The G7 also threatened tougher sanctions against Russia for its annexation of Crimea, which has plunged relations between the West and Moscow to their lowest point since the Cold War. The meeting in The Hague came as Ukraine ordered its outnumbered troops to withdraw from Crimea as yet another of its bases was stormed. Earlier, the White House had said it was "very concerned" by the Russian troop build-up on the border. "We remain ready to intensify actions including coordinated sectoral sanctions that will have an increasingly significant impact on the Russian economy, if Russia continues to escalate this situation," the G7 leaders said in a statement. The G7 "came together because of shared beliefs and shared responsibilities. Russia's actions in recent weeks are not consistent with them. Under these circumstances, we will not participate in the planned Sochi summit." But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov defiantly dismissed such a move as "no great tragedy" after separate talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry and Ukraine's interim Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya — the highest-level contacts between the two neighbours since the crisis erupted. "If our Western partners think that this format (the G8) has outlived itself, then so be it," Lavrov told reporters. "We are not trying to hold on to this format, and we see no great tragedy if it does not meet," he said, insisting that Crimea has "a right to self-determination". Russia's takeover of the region was not "malicious intent", said Lavrov, but was to "protect the Russians who have been living there for hundreds of years". Moscow was added to the G7 club of the US, Japan, Germany, Italy, France, Canada and Britain — seen as the world's top diplomatic and economic table — in 1999 as a reward for choosing the path of democracy after the collapse of Communism. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said the snubbing of Russia was "perhaps the most significant action because it shows that all these different countries have not accepted the annexation of Crimea as a fait accompli". Fabius stressed that the G7 had agreed to work out how to reduce their energy dependency on Russia. "Because when we talk about sanctions, possible reactions, energy questions must be asked," Fabius said. "We must be in a situation where we don't depend as much as we do today on Russia," he said. Ukrainian ship stormed A senior US administration official said there was consensus that any future sanctions on Russia should target its energy, finance and banking, and arms sectors. The official said such a move would cause economic pain for some Russian trade partners, but that "the cost is far greater for the Russians, who stand much more to lose from isolation from the global economy". "Putting the sectoral sanctions on the table sends a message to Russia to refrain from any escalation, for instance going into eastern or southern Ukraine," the official said. At the same time, the US Senate voted a $1 billion aid package for Ukraine, clearing the passage for the Obama-backed bill, which could be adopted maybe as soon as this week. In Crimea, Russian forces stormed a Ukrainian navy ship, with an AFP correspondent reporting plumes of smoke as a Ukrainian defence spokesman said the crew had fired smoke grenades in self-defence. Ukraine's interim foreign minister stressed that Kiev sought to resolve the crisis through diplomacy. "The position of the Ukrainian government is to use all peaceful means, all diplomatic and economic means to resolve this conflict peacefully," he told reporters. "However, we don't know what are the Russian plans. What the plans of President (Vladimir) Putin (are). That's why we ask for meetings with the Russians," he said before his talks with Lavrov. Russian troop formations The diplomatic efforts came as Ukrainian authorities pulled out all servicemen and their families to the mainland. The announcement from acting president Oleksandr Turchynov came less than a month after Putin won authorisation to use force in response to the Feb 22 ouster of pro-Kremlin president Viktor Yanukovych's regime by more nationalist leaders who are seeking a closer alliance with Europe. Ukraine's increasingly demoralised forces had been steadily losing ground on the Black Sea peninsula and saw their main airbase outside the regional capital Simferopol stormed on Saturday. A top Nato commander had warned that the Western military alliance was carefully watching massive Russian troop formations that could theoretically make a push across the vast ex-Soviet country at any point. Moscow has denied any such plans despite Putin's open ambition to resurrect vestiges of the Soviet empire and stamp his authority over eastern European nations that sought protection from the West following the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall.

'Despite all odds, I am going to school every day'

Wearing a traditional purple scarf with a red bandage tied on her forehead, eight-year-old Parveen Manzoor is desperate for every child in her dusty village to enroll in school. Parveen, herself, is fortunate enough to be studying at a girls’ school in Sara Ghurgai, a town located north of Quetta. “Despite all odds, I am going to school every day,” Parveen says. Parveen’s determination is commendable as Balochistan struggles to educate its children. According to officials in the province’s education department, 2.3 million boys and girls in Quetta and 32 other districts across Balochistan remain deprived of this fundamental right. Speaking to Dawn.com on the issue, advisor to the chief minister on education Sardar Raza Muhammad Bareech says, “Children from 10,000 settlements are currently deprived of schooling.” Some organisations are taking initiative on the issue realising the importance of education to counter extremist tendencies and overcome growing radicalisation. One such initiative is by the Pashtoonkhwa Students Organisation which aims to combat terrorism in Pakhtun-dominated areas by improving education levels. In line with their objective the organisation launched a month-long campaign encouraging families to enroll their children in school. Parveen also took active part in their rallies. “Even on the street where my house is, a number of children are not going to school,” Parveen says hoping her efforts will change their mind. There are some encouraging developments. Chief for the organisation’s Balochistan chapter Kabir Afghan says, “thousands of girls and boys have enrolled into schools (as a result of the campaign).” Like Parveen, young Saima also took part in the rally. “We want education,” she firmly stated, joining her friends in chanting slogans at the rally in Sara Ghurgai, she shouted: “We want a teacher in every class”, “every child in school” and “a school in every village.” To lend their support and show solidarity with the initiative, a large number of local tribesmen also participated in the rally actively convincing parents to send their children to school. Claims and counter-claims Financial, as well as social factors appear to be the main obstacles in the remote-areas of the province. According to the 1998 census, there were a total of 22,000 settlements across Balochistan. In comparison, the Balochistan Education Department put the number of government-run primary, middle and high schools at 12,600. “Most schools in the province are ghost schools,” Afghan says. Over 1,000 schools either have no boundary wall and in a number of instances no ceiling as well. The lack of a proper infrastructure exposes children to rainfall, as well as harsh weather during winter says Secretary for Education Ghulam Ali Baloch. In addition, most of schools have no drinking water and no toilets. “We are unable to provide all facilities to schools due to insufficient resources,” Bareech explains. During the last three months, despite their limitations he says, the department was able to make 300 schools functional. This was possible as for the first time in the history of the province the government led by Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has allocated 24 per cent of the provincial budget for education. “We are determined to educate our new generation,” Dr Malik Baloch told Dawn.com. Baloch’s determination is noteworthy but there are several key factors impeding his success which need to be tackled simultaneously. The law and order situation in the province is of prime concern as is the need for better governance. The government claims to have increased student enrolment during the academic year 2014 but a large number of children are still out of school. “Forget about the quality (of education), our children are deprived of even primary education,” Afghan says, adding that one of the main objectives of the Pashtoonkhwa Students Organisation was to enable the students to read and write. Other stumbling blocks Quality education in Balochistan is merely confined to a handful of educational institutions which are expensive and located in the provincial capital of Quetta. “I cannot afford high fees of private schools,” says Ghulam Haider, a government servant whose kids study in a government-run school in Quetta. Despite these efforts to improve quality and access to education, the far-flung areas of Balochistan such as Dera Bugti, Awaran and Musa Khel remain a grave challenge for the government, where buildings for government schools are used for anything but imparting education. A strong commitment is essential through successive governments in order for the resource-rich province to improve education levels.

MFN status for India postponed: Nawaz

HAGUE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Monday that the granting of Most-Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India had been postponed. Sharif also said that the government's committee to mediate with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan would visit North Waziristan tomorrow in order to hold direct talks with the Taliban leadership. Speaking to mediapersons after holding a meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry, during the sidelines of a two-day nuclear summit, Sharif said that the Kashmir issue should be resolved adding that India showed reluctance every time Pakistan raised the matter with it. The premier also proposed an intervention by a third force over the issue and said that the matter could be resolved if a third force like the United States was involved. The Prime Minister also admitted that decision to grant MFN status to India was postponed because of a lack of consensus. Sharif further said that he had directed his team to talk to all stakeholders and develop consensus on the matter. “We also deferred this due to elections in India because we did not want to favor single political party in India”, the Prime Minister commented. In 2012, Pakistan had committed itself to giving the MFN status to India after a strong persuasive note by the World Bank, and having done all the necessary spadework in this regard, opted to miss its own deadline of December 31, owing to domestic opposition and reciprocal response from New Delhi. Talking about the mediation with the Taliban he said the government was holding talks with sincerity and the committee to hold talks on behalf of the government would visit North Waziristan tomorrow where direct talks would take place with the Taliban leadership. Answering another question the prime minister said that peace in Afghanistan was the need of Pakistan and also welcomed the US move of halting drone strikes in Pakistani territory. Earlier, Prime Minister Sharif met US Secretary of State John Kerry and both sides reaffirmed their desire to continue the strategic dialogue, covering a wide range of areas. US Secretary of State said his country has great confidence in Pakistan's nuclear security and will continue to work with Pakistan in fighting terrorism. In brief remarks to the press he also assured cooperation to Pakistan to help meet its energy needs. John Kerry said the two countries were “deeply engaged” and said the two sides will focus on the issue of terrorism, counter terrorism, global energy besides Afghanistan and the bilateral Pakistan-United States relations. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said there were a lot of challenges for his government that came into power nine months back, however measures were afoot to address these. He also mentioned his meeting with US President Barack Obama a few months ago in Washington DC and said the dialogue with the US will continue. John Kerry mentioned his meeting in Washington with the Adviser to Prime Minister Sartaj Aziz recently and said he was looking forward to his meeting with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar soon. The Prime Minister is accompanied by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Syed Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry.

Missing MH370 came down in Indian Ocean: Malaysian PM

KUALA LUMPUR: A new analysis of satellite data indicates the missing Malaysia Airlines plane crashed into a remote corner of the Indian Ocean, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said Monday. The news is a major breakthrough in the unprecedented two-week struggle to find out what happened to Flight 370, which disappeared shortly after takeoff from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew aboard on March 8. Dressed in a black suit, Najib announced the news in a brief statement to reporters late Monday night, saying the information was based on an unprecedented analysis of satellite data from Inmarsat. He said the data indicated the plane flew ''to a remote location, far from any possible landing sites.'' ''It is therefore with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you that, according to this new data, Flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean.'' He said Malaysia Airlines has informed the families of passengers of the plane's fate.

7 reasons why you should add Basil to your daily diet

Basil or Tulsi which is worshipped in India lives up to its reputation as it has miraculous healing powers. Chewing Tulsi leaves is very healthy and if you do it on a routine basis you will start to see the difference. Have a look at the amazing health benefits of Tulsi: 1. Cures coughs: Ayurvedic cough syrups have Tulsi as the one of the major ingredients. Water boiled with basil leaves is drunk in to cure sore throats. 2. Removes Blemishes: It is very effective in treating acne and skin blemishes. It not only cleans the skin but also gives it a luster. 3. Treats respiratory disorders: Tulsi along with honey and ginger is a known remedy for asthma, bronchitis and influenza. 4. Cures Infections: Tulsi leaves have antibacterial properties and can be used to eliminate infectious diseases from surfaces. When applied to wounds, basil leaves may eliminate bacterial infections. 5. Improves Digestion: It as an anti-inflammatory which has digestion healing benefits and can give relief from inflammatory bowel conditions. It is also known to give relief from stomach gas, treat constipation, stomach cramps, and indigestion. 6. Prevents cancer: Tulsi has strong antioxidants that fight cancer. It also contains flavonoids which protect from radiation and other radical damage. 7. Reduces Cholesterol: It is known to cure cardiac diseases and reduce blood cholesterol. It is rich in antioxidants such as beta- carotene, which promotes cardiovascular health.

Top 5 reasons why you can't get pregnant

Have you been trying to have a baby but all your efforts have ended in vain? There could be a number of things that you could be doing wrong. Have a look at the major reasons behind this: 1. Too much sex: You could be overdoing it. Having sex every day counts as too much sex and having it once in a week comes in the category of little sex. Have the right amount of sex. 2. Using weird stuff: Lubricants may cause a decrease in your man’s sperm counts. It is extremely important to use safe lubricants while indulging in sex not only for pregnancy but also to prevent infections. Avoid or use safe lubrication. 3. Hormonal imbalance: Being underweight or overweight affects your ovulation which could be the reason behind infertility. Watch your weight. 4. Smoking habits: Addiction has proven the worst for people who want to be pregnant. Drugs and caffeine reduce fertility which is why women who smoke have trouble having kids. Get rid of your addictions. 5. Stress: Job stress, work stress, relationship stress or even the stress of not getting pregnant make the body under-perform which can lead to miscarriages or non-pregnancy. Stress has the ability to make situations worse be it pregnancy. Try yoga. A few fixes here and there might help you. If you find that none of the above matches your problem then you must consult a doctor.

Blue cheese can prevent heart diseases, claims study

Blue cheese - known for its mould and blue-green veins - has anti-inflammatory properties that can ward off heart diseases, scientists say. The Roquefort cheese or blue cheese, aged in caves in the South of France, could be among the reasons why the French enjoy good health despite a diet high in saturated fat - a situation dubbed “The French Paradox”, researchers said. A process that occurs as the cheese ripens is good for a healthy gut as it helps slow arthritis, and can slow the signs of ageing, such as cellulite, according to Cambridge-based biotech company Lycotec. Researchers found that the properties of the blue cheese worked best in acidic environments, such as the lining of the stomach, the ‘Daily Mail’ reported.’ The research suggests regular consumption by the French of Roquefort, Camembert and other moulded fermented cheeses could be one of the reasons the nation has the lowest rate of cardiovascular mortality in the developed world. Experts said Roquefort's properties could be extracted and used in pharmaceutical and anti-ageing products. "Observations indicate that consumption of red wine alone cannot explain the paradox and perhaps some other constituents of the typical French diet could be responsible for reduced cardiovascular mortality.

Australian pilot, searching for the missing MH 370, becomes an internet sensation!

New Delhi: A Royal Australian Air Force pilot, involved in the search for the missing Nalaysian Airlines flight MH 370, has become an internet sensation after neitizens started complementing his good looks. Flight Lieutenant Russell Adams was interviewed on Australian television about his role in the search for the missing airliner - but online comments soon started rolling in about how attractive the young pilot is. According to a report in news.com.au, Adams led the team aboard the RAAF P3 Orion that set out across the southern Indian Ocean to find the debris that could possibly belong to the missing plane. But instead of finding the debris, he found himself a whole new legion of fans.” The report quoted some of the things that have been said about Flight Lieutenant Russell Adams online in the past few days. ‘Can we just take a moment to appreciate Captain Russell Adams from the Australian MH370 search team. I wonder when LEGO will release an exclusive minifig of Flight Lieutenant Russell Adams, AP-3C Orion SAR superstar.’ ‘Gosh that Australian Air Force guy Russell Adams on the news is a hottay mallottay!! #sort.’ ‘Captain Russell Adams from the Australian MH370 search team serving up Top Gun realness.’ ‘In another country, he’d be a model. In Australia, he’s just Russell Adams ... pilot.’ ‘I’d like to debrief Russell Adams.’ ‘Not to detract from the search effort, but Flight Lieutenant Russell Adams is a hottie.’ ‘If that Russell Adams from the Australian Airforce came to save my life I’d be one very happy bunny.’

World Tuberculosis Day: 8 early and sure shot symptoms of TB

24th March is observed as Tuberculosis Day worldwide. Tuberculosis usually referred to as TB, is a common, and in many cases fatal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria. Tuberculosis typically attacks the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body. It is spread through the air when people who have an active TB infection cough, sneeze, or otherwise transmit respiratory fluids through the air. A fatal disease, we bring to you some early symptoms of TB. In case you notice any of the stated, consult a doctor immediately to prevent damage. Here are a few most common symptoms of TB- If you have active TB disease, you may have these symptoms: • Overall sensation of feeling unwell • Cough, possibly with bloody mucus • Fatigue • Shortness of breath • Weight loss • Slight fever • Night sweats • Pain in the chest Call Your Doctor About TB If: • You have any of the symptoms of active TB disease • You have been exposed to someone with active tuberculosis

‘We thrashed those women in order to bring them on right path’, Pramod Muthalik's shocking defence on 2009 Mangalore pub attack

Hubli/New Delhi: Shi Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik whose entry into the saffron party was stalled even before he could officially join it is notorious for being instrumental in an attack on a pub in Mangalore in 2009. The controversial leader on Monday defended his party and himself and said that thrashing women was wrong but the intention behind the incident was right. Speaking to a TV news channel Muthalik said, “Our sisters were beaten up, that was not right. But we had to bring them on the right path.” “There is a case against me, I went to jail for 15 days. Raking up that issue now is not right,” added Sri Ram Sene chief. In a dramatic move, the Bjp on Sunday announced the induction of Muthalik in Hubli and forced him to quit barely five hours after that. The decision was taken following instructions of BJP president Rajnath Singh. Sources in BJP said Muthalik's inclusion was defered due to opposition expressed by Goa BJP chief minister Manohar Parrikar and other leaders of BJP. "Criticism of opposition parties has also forced us to take back the decision," they said. 51-year-old Muthalik had shot into limelight after activists of his right-wing outfit had barged into the pub in Mangalore in 2009 and assaulted youngsters — women and men — after accusing them of behaving in an "obscene manner". Muthalik, who was arrested after the incident, had apologised for the violence but claimed that their actions were "aimed at protecting the women".

WALK OF SHAME: BJP Rajkot candidate's 'WALKING OVER SCHOOL KIDS' video goes viral

Ahmedabad/Rajkot: In an embarrassment for Bharatiya Janata Party, Mohan Kundariya, party’s candidate from Rajkot was caught on camera walking over the backs of school children at an event organised by the Arya Samaj. Kundariya’s video went viral on mobile phone messaging application “WhatsApp”, stated a CNN IBN report. In the video, the Bjp candidate is seen walking over the backs of students, who were performing Yoga during the event. However, Kundariya defended himself saying, “It was a Yoga camp and the organisers forced me to walk on the students. Kundariya pointed out that this was done in order to exhibit the students' yoga skills.

Watch video here.. http://goo.gl/NroX2S

Afghanistan hints at Pakistan link to hotel attack

KABUL: Afghanistan on Sunday said an attack on a Kabul hotel that left nine civilians dead, including an AFP journalist, was planned “outside the country” in a veiled reference to Pakistan. The National Security Council (NSC), which is chaired by President Hamid Karzai, also alleged that a Pakistani diplomat was seen scoping out the corridors of the Serena hotel ahead of the March 20 night raid. Pakistan was the main supporter of the former Taliban regime in Afghanistan, and Afghan officials have long voiced suspicions about connections between the Taliban and Islamabad’s powerful intelligence services. The NSC said the attack on the hotel, which was carried out by four teenage gunmen and claimed by the Taliban, was in fact the work of “foreign intelligence services” – a phrase normally meant to mean neighbouring Pakistan. “Witness testimony and preliminary information analysis shows that this terrorist attack was directly executed or carried out by foreign intelligence services outside the country,” the council said in a statement. “Another information of the NDS (National Directorate of Security) shows that earlier when one Pakistani diplomat entered the Kabul-Serena hotel to use its sport club, he filmed the corridors of the hotel which the hotel staff raised objections to,” it added. The NDS is Afghanistan’s main intelligence agency. The victims of Thursday’s attack included AFP journalist Sardar Ahmad, his wife and two of their three children, along with another Afghan and four foreigners – two Canadians, an American and a Paraguayan. The couple’s youngest son, two-year-old Abozar, survived with bullet wounds to the head, chest and leg and remained in intensive care on Sunday. Afghanistan made a similar allegation following a deadly restaurant bombing in Kabul in January that killed 21 people including 13 foreigners. The latest accusation could damage relations with Pakistan which is battling its own homegrown Taliban insurgency and is seen as crucial to encouraging the Afghan Taliban to open talks. Many Afghan Taliban leaders seek shelter in Pakistan, and Islamabad’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency is often accused of maintaining ties to the militants to ensure future influence in Afghanistan after US-led Nato troops withdraw.

Farmers better off with use of mobile phones

KARACHI: Aamer Sarfaraz, the founder of Indus Basin Holdings, is witnessing how mobile phones are changing Pakistan’s agriculture. Farmers regularly call friends and relatives to keep abreast of market prices, weather conditions and ways to strike the best possible deal. Indus Basin Holdings, which is backed by leading international investors, invests in agribusiness and keeping a close contact with farmers is a vital requirement. It is engaged in the business of cereals, rice, guar and other agricultural products. It takes pride in eliminating the role of middlemen by directly lifting the produce from farmers. “One hundred per cent of contract rice farmers working with us have a mobile phone,” Sarfaraz told The Express Tribune. “If they don’t have a mobile, then someone in the family is connected through the device.” Farmers are sent important information via Urdu SMS regularly. “We tell them what type of seeds to use, about a possible pest attack and how to avoid it.” But are the farmers educated enough to read? Not necessarily. “However, according to demographics, most of our population is young. These 18 to 20-year-old kids find a way around technology,” he said. “In any case, even our grandparents have a hard time getting used to mobile phones.” As Pakistan gears up for third generation cellular connectivity, experts have been trying to figure out its impact on the economy. Being a relatively newer technology in developing countries, there is little empirical evidence how it could prop up Pakistan’s economy. Yet some economists believe that follow-up investments, which will be made in developing applications, would be sizeable. Infrastructure investment As for the investment telecommunication firms make in infrastructure, Abbas Ali Mirza, CEO of Relacom Pakistan, says people should not expect much. Relacom Pakistan has been working with mobile companies for nine years in areas of construction, technical installations and network management. “Over the years the firms have already invested in upgrading their systems like towers,” he said. “They have put the equipment in place. Only minor changes have to be made and that’s all.” Initially, the 3G service providers will focus on big cities, where they have the infrastructure and from where they expect to generate revenue easily, he said. “A 3G tower’s footprint or coverage area is less than 2G’s because the former needs more electricity. But we would be left with some holes in rural areas.” While fierce competition helped take 2G to 90% areas of the country, people have to realise 3G is going to be a premium product and its penetration will be gradual. One area where Mirza sees growth is e-commerce. “At the moment, that’s a very small market but direct contact with such a huge population opens door for all sorts of opportunities.” The entertainment-starved young population will also be a big market for social app developers, he said. Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2014.

Technology adoption : Smarter phones to become the need of the hour

KARACHI: The roll out of the next-generation mobile internet services will change a lot for everyone — even the common man. But its biggest impact would be on smartphone sales in the country. It is understood that once the 3G service kicks off in Pakistan, smartphone penetration is likely to increase with its sales also going higher.

United Mobile Director Ejaz Hussain revealed that currently smartphones form less than a fifth of the company’s monthly imports but the number will go up. “Only 15% of our monthly mobile phone imports are smartphones. This number can increase by 50% within a year once 3G service is available in the country,” Hussain told The Express Tribune. The rollout of 3G technology, Hussain says, will provide a strong boost to Pakistan’s smartphone market. Since the market largely remains untapped, he says every single player will benefit from this technology. The country’s smartphone market is only 15% of the mobile industry but it is growing rapidly. With a couple of operators ready to launch the service shortly after the auction of the 3G spectrum – due next month – the demand for smartphones is likely to shoot up. It is, perhaps, this positive outlook that United Mobile, which had been one of the country’s major distributors for Nokia, launched its own smartphone recently. The optimism of mobile phone makers ahead of the spectrum auction is also reflected in the country’s telecom imports. Mobile phone imports for the month of February, 2014 – the latest month for which data was publicly available – increased 20% to Rs6 billion compared to Rs5 billion in February, 2013.

Mobile phone makers operating in the country including QMobile, Nokia, Huawei, Voice have increased their marketing expenditure manifold, while running aggressive advertising campaigns to increase their market share. “We are investing heavily in the Pakistani market in the coming years,” said Huawei’s Head of Marketing Faraz Malik Khan. “I believe that after the launch of 3G it will be an exponential growth. We have conducted smartphone penetration research in Pakistan and the results are fantastic.” Nokia Pakistan, which once dominated the country’s mobile phone market, has also been active in an attempt to regain its market share. Last month, the Finnish mobile phone maker launched two phablets — a mobile device that combines the functions of a mobile phone and a tablet. The company is all set to launch its first ever Android-powered smartphone later this month as well. “The 3G technology will give the required boost to the Pakistan’s telecom industry,” Country General Manager for Nokia Pakistan and Afghanistan Arif Shafique said. “It is only the next, natural step for the Pakistani market to become 3G-enabled. This would make the Pakistani mobile phone users feel more empowered when using their smartphones.” Publicly available data shows mobile phone imports by value and not by units, making it difficult to figure out company-wise imports and market position of each player. However, market sources said that Pakistan’s monthly mobile phone imports are between 2 to 3 million units – around 85% of these handsets are basic and feature phones and only 15% can be categorised as smartphones. The estimates are based on the tax receipts of the Federal Board of Revenue, sources say. Besides legal imports, industry sources say that up to 150,000 mobile phones, including high-end brands like iPhones and BlackBerrys enter the country through the grey (illegal) market. While mobile companies refrain from disclosing their import volumes, sources said that QMobile is the largest importer with nearly a million units followed by Nokia Pakistan that imports up to 400,000 mobile phones each month. Among other brands, industry sources say Samsung imports up to 100,000 mobile phones on average, Voice Mobile imports around 200,000 and Huawei Technologies Pakistan imports up to 40,000 mobile phones. Huawei imports only smartphones. Though the breakdown of imported units gives some idea of the market’s current position, it will be too early to predict as to which company will benefit the most once 3G is available. QMobile – arguably the highest-selling smartphone brand – has certainly established a brand name during the last few years but the smartphone market is still in its infancy, say industry sources. The local smartphone market provides enough room for growth to every player. About 15 million people access internet through mobile phones but many of them use feature phones, they say. Smartphones were once out of reach for most of the Pakistani mobile phone users. However, the advent of new companies that have reached a wider market by playing on price, the competition has risen. United Mobile Director Hussain said the company offering the best combination of price and quality would stand out with the larger market share, insisting that smartphones worth $100 or below are likely to help in this regard. Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2014.

Turkish president says Twitter ban to be lifted 'soon'

ANKARA: Turkey’s president said Sunday the government would soon lift its ban on Twitter, which has sparked criticism at home and abroad. “It is not legally possible to shut down the Internet and such platforms (as Twitter),” Abdullah Gul told reporters in Ankara before leaving for an official visit to the Netherlands. “I believe this problem will be over soon,” he said. “This is of course an unpleasant situation for such a developed country as Turkey, which has weight in the region and which is negotiating with the European Union. Therefore, it will be overcome soon.” The president also confirmed that the US-based social media giant had hired a lawyer in Turkey for negotiations with the authorities. “Twitter did not have any representative in Turkey. There should be good communication channels with such… giants. They now have a lawyer here acting for them,” he said. Gul, a frequent social media user, took to Twitter on Friday to denounce the government’s ban hours after the network went dark, becoming the highest-level leader in the country to circumvent the block, along with some ministers. The Twitter ban was instituted late Thursday after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to “wipe out” the social network. Gul, who hails from Erdogan’s Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP), has emerged as a more conciliatory leader than the Turkish premier, who has been in power since 2003. But he also drew criticism last month for signing a controversial AKP-sponsored law to tighten government control over the Internet. Government officials said authorities blocked access to Twitter because the service ignored “hundreds of court orders” to remove some links deemed illegal. Critics however claim it was an attempt to hush up corruption allegations ensnaring Erdogan and his allies ahead of key local elections on March 30. Audio tapes allegedly depicting Erdogan involved in massive corruption have flooded social media networks including Twitter almost daily. Erdogan has dismissed most of the audio recordings as a “vile montage” put together by his political rivals. The president said Sunday that his telephones might also have been tapped, but that he had “nothing to worry about”.

Search for MH370: Sightings boost ‘hope’ for missing Malaysia plane

PERTH: The sighting of a wooden pallet and other debris that may be linked to a Malaysian passenger jet raised hopes Sunday of a breakthrough in the international search for the missing plane. The sense that the hunt was finally on the right track after more than two weeks of false leads and dead ends was reinforced by new French satellite data indicating floating objects in the southern search area. Australian officials said the pallet, along with belts or straps, was spotted Saturday in a remote stretch of the Indian Ocean that has become the focus of the search – around 2,500 kilometres southwest of Perth. “It’s still too early to be definite,” Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott told reporters during a visit to Papua New Guinea. “But obviously we have now had a number of very credible leads and there is increasing hope that we might be on the road to discovering what did happen to this ill-fated aircraft.” Australian and Chinese satellite images have picked up large objects floating in the inhospitable region, and Malaysia’s transport ministry said Sunday that France had provided similar data ‘in the vicinity of the southern corridor’. The Malaysian statement gave no details of the French satellite data. But France’s foreign ministry said it came in the form of satellite-generated radar echoes, which contains information about the location and distance of the object which bounces a signal back. Sunday’s search covered 59,000 square km. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) confirmed that the pallet and other debris marked the ‘first visual sighting’ since Australian, New Zealand and US spotter planes began scouring the area on Thursday. Wooden pallets are quite common in aircraft and ship cargo holds. The objects were spotted by observers on one of the civilian aircraft taking part in the search. An air force P3 Orion aircraft with specialist electro-optic observation equipment was diverted to the same location, but only reported sighting clumps of seaweed. Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2014.

For Pindi-Islamabad commuters: Nawaz flags off metro bus project

RAWALPINDI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated on Sunday a multibillion-rupee mass transit project for the twin cities and said that it would be replicated in Multan in the next phase. The Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Service project will be completed at a cost of Rs44.21 billion within 10 months. After unveiling the plaque, the premier addressed a gathering at Rawalpindi where extraordinary security was in place for the occasion. He promised the Punjab chief minister, Shahbaz Sharif, additional funds after the latter complained that the 50/50 cost-sharing formula for the project was not in favour of his province.

“The nation will see positive developments with each passing day,” he said, pointing to an array of projects that his government has planned over the next four years, including Karachi motorway, Islamabad-Muzaffarabad train service and new Islamabad airport. He said the government was also working on a plan to end power outages and 22,000 megawatts of electricity would be added to the national grid over the next four years. The prime minister recalled that Pakistan witnessed brief stints of development when his party, the PML-N, was voted to power twice in the 1990s. In this context, he specifically referred to the country’s nuclear programme and the network of world-class motorways. Subsequent military regimes and even political governments did nothing for the people and instead plunged the country into crises. “The nations that were 30 years behind us back then are 30 years ahead of us [in terms of development] today,” he regretted. “The previous regimes deliberately kept the nation backward in order to prolong their rules.” He said peace was a prerequisite for development. With this in mind, the government launched a peace initiative which, the premier said, was going ahead at a ‘satisfactory pace’. A face-to-face meeting between the government negotiating team and Taliban Political Shura members will be held in a ‘day or two’, he added. “Terrorism, corruption, unemployment, indiscipline and poverty are rampant today,” Nawaz said but hoped that peace would be restored and the country would get rid of the scourge of terrorism and extremism. Coming to another important topic, economy, the premier said the country’s economic indicators were positive. “I’ve directed Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to ensure the US dollar stays below 100 but not lower than Rs98 so that both importers and exporters could benefit,” he added. In his address on the occasion, the Punjab chief minister said Rawalpindi and Islamabad would become twin cities in real sense after the completion of the metro bus project. He also complained that the cost-sharing formula was not in favour of his province and sought more funds from the prime minister. “Affected traders will be compensated for their property according to the market value and for the disturbance of their businesses,” he said. At the same time, he came down hard on the critics of the metro bus. “Those who are criticising the project do not bother if students reach their schools late, or a patient dies in ambulance on way to hospital,” he said. “They [critics] are just playing politics.” A documentary shown on the occasion pointed out there will be no environmental impact of the project as no green area will be affected during the construction of the project and it will not violate the master plan of Islamabad. It also showed the route of the metro bus that will start from Flashman’s Hotel Chowk on Murree Road and end at Pakistan Secretariat covering a distance of 23.2 kilometres. From Faizabad, Rawalpindi, the bus will run on IJP Road, 9th Avenue and Jinnah Avenue, Blue Area and culminate near the Pakistan Secretariat. The track will have 24 modern terminals for passengers. Of these, 10 will be on Murree Road while 14 in Islamabad. Initially, 60 buses will ply from Rawalpindi to Islamabad catering to over 150,000 passengers. Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2014.

Heinous crime: Woman fleeing rapist hit by train

FAISALABAD: A woman got in the way of a train and died in an attempt to flee from a local influential who was chasing her with the intent of rape on Saturday. The father of the ill-fated girl, a resident of Basti Mallah Wali, told media persons on Sunday that his family worked at a brick kiln near Jhang City railway station. He said his 25-year-old daughter was on her way home from the kiln when a local landlord stopped her and tried to forcibly take her to his dera. She resisted the attempted and managed to escape. He said she reached home and told them about the incident. The man followed her home. He was drunk and tried to force his way into the house, the father said. The landlord ordered us to send the girl with him or he would kill her and the rest of the family, he said. He said that the family members resisted and his daughter climbed over the boundary wall of their house and ran away. He said that she went in the direction of the rail track and was hit by a train. “She tried to protect herself and her family from disgrace,” the father said. “We have approached the police but we are poor kiln workers and the landlord is forcing us to retract our complaint or face dire consequences,” he said. The Jhang City station house officer told The Express Tribune that the police were investigating the matter and would take a decision on merit. “If the allegations are true, the landlord will be taken to task without any leniency, regardless of his social status. However, he has not been arrested yet,” the station house officer said. Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2014.

Karachi residents arrested for allegedly smuggling fake medicines to Malaysia

KARACHI: Two smugglers, wanted by the Dubai police, were arrested in Karachi for attempting to smuggle fake medicines to Malaysia, Express News reported on Monday. The two men, identified as Shah Faisal and Jamal Durrani, were arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) when the suspects were on their way to Malaysia from Jinnah International Airport. According to initial investigation by the FIA, the men had supplied fake drugs in Dubai as well and were wanted by Dubai police. Both Durrani and Faisal were residents of Saeedabad area of Karachi.

Govt-TTP talks to discuss recovery of Shahbaz Taseer, Haider Gilani

ISLAMABAD: Rustam Shah, one of the state-committee’s members for peace talks with Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), said Monday that the government had completed its homework for pursuing talks with the banned militant organisation, DawnNews reported. Rustam added that the government team was planning to hold direct talks with the Taliban tomorrow and had the weather not turned for the worse, then the meeting could have taken place today. He said the government had also prepared its list of demands. Sources told DawnNews that the government would negotiate the recovery of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s son Syed Ali Haider Gilani, Shahbaz Taseer, the son of former Punjab governor Salman Taseer and Ajmal Khan. Meanwhile, the Taliban committee’s representative Professor Ibrahim said he was in continuous contact with the government’s negotiators. He said the date for holding talks would be finalised today. Earlier, the TTP had proposed its stronghold of North Waziristan as the venue, while the government wanted to hold talks in Bannu.

Indian Toyota workers down tools despite end to lockout

BANGALORE: Employees at Toyota's auto assembly plants in southern India failed to return to work Monday at the end of a week-long lockout after refusing to sign codes of conduct, their union said. Although around 500 staff gathered outside the twin plants near Bangalore for the start of their shifts, they did not clock in after managers insisted they sign the agreements, according to a local union chief. “As we are against giving or signing any undertaking, none of us has entered the factory for the first shift which began at 6:00 am,” Prasanna Kumar, president of the Toyota Kirloskar Motor Ltd Union, told AFP. “The undertaking is against our rights as workers. We have a right to protect our interests and ensure that our welfare is not jeopardised.” Operations had been expected to resume after Toyota announced at the end of last week that it had decided to lift the lockout following a meeting with labour groups which was chaired by a local government mediator. However unions said at the time that the demand for employees to give a written undertaking of good conduct before resuming work was “harsh” and also demanded that Toyota reverse a decision to suspend 17 workers. The Japanese firm, which is the world's largest automaker, suspended production on Monday of last week after long-running efforts to hammer out a new pay deal failed. Toyota said some employees had resorted to deliberate stoppages of the production line, abuse and threats to supervisors and continuous disruptions to business for several weeks. Company and union officials have been trying to agree a new contract for the past 10 months, with the government helping mediate negotiations. Toyota Kirloskar Motor Ltd Union has demanded a pay hike of at least 4,000 rupees ($65) a month, while the company is offering only 3,050 ($50), citing difficult market conditions which have seen car sales in India fall almost 10 percent for first time in over a decade. No company officials were immediately available for comment. But Kumar said the union had asked the state government “to direct the company to lift the lockout unconditionally”, claiming the shutdown was illegal as it was declared without a statutory two-week notice period. The two factories employ around 6,400 people and produce about 310,000 autos annually in a range of models including the flagship Camry sedan, the Corolla and the Prius hybrid, mostly for the domestic market.

Egypt sentences 529 Morsi supporters to death

CAIRO: A court in southern Egyptian has convicted 529 supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi, sentencing them to death on charges of murdering a policeman and attacking police. The court in Minya issued its ruling on Monday after only two sessions in which the defendants' lawyers complained they had no chance to present their case. Those convicted are part of a group of 545 defendants on trial for the killing of a police officer, attempted killing of two others, attacking a police station and other acts of violence. More than 150 suspects stood trial, the others were tried in absentia. Sixteen were acquitted. The defendants were arrested after violent demonstrations that were a backlash for the police crackdown in August on pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo that killed hundreds of people.

easy homemade skin care tips for Indian skin

“Beauty comes at a price”! A famous proverb, and accepted by many. Though, we are about to prove it wrong. Beautiful skin is something all women yearn for and yes if you opt for salons and parlors to do the favours, it would indeed be pricey. We bring to you some budget friendly homemade beauty tips. Now pamper yourself free of cost in the luxury of your own home. Here’s what you should do. -Take the one cup of tea water in the cooled down and two spoons of rice flour as well as take the half spoon of honey content. The rice flour act as the very good scrub and honey moisturizer the skin condition without any damage. -One tablespoon of oats in the cooked condition and mashed that will help reduce the inflammation as well as the skin heals. Add the one tablespoon of lemon juice and it will help lighten the skin tone without any dull look. If you have the sensitive skin appearance that can dilute the lemon juice with the water content. - Take a clean spray bottle and fill it with some level of vinegar substance. Spray it directly on the affected areas as well as allow it to dry and you can instantly can feel the cooling substance and relaxing the sensation on your skin condition. - There are several ways to remove the tan right at your home. The ubtan has a traditional way of treatment that will include the use of mixture of besan, turmeric and yogurt. The main usage of turmeric effects will remove the blemishes and dark spots. -The yogurt will clear the excessive tan as well as it will handle the cleaning of your skin condition without any damage causes. These sets of medication have supported visible quite that are immediately removed the tanning needs a couple of days that will depend on the intensity of the tan.

Advertisement Suffering from hair problems? Here's what you can do to end them

A lot of problems related to hair such as falling hair, dandruff, hair whitening and scalp issues can be tackled easily with a little care and caution. If your hair is dying, then it is time to react. Try these 5 easy tricks and feel the difference. -Drink a lot of coconut water. Boil mistletoe (Amar Bel) in coconut oil and apply on the hair. -Honey is full of medicinal benefits. It is cold in nature and can cure many diseases. Applying honey in hair will not only stop hair fall but also condition it. -Stress is a major cause of hair loss. Giving the body due rest and keeping the mid stress free will stop hair fall. -Mix camphor in coconut oil and apply it thoroughly on the scalp and the hair. Dandruff will go away slowly and you will notice less hair fall within a few days. -Weather or place change can seriously affect your hair. In such a case, it is best to wash the hair at regular intervals. A healthy diet can permanently stop hair fall.

WARNING: Offensive messaging during elections may land you in ‘jail’

Indore: The Election Commission has ordered to take strict action against those who do any sort of objectionable messages during the Lok Sabha elections under model code of conduct. The mobile number used in doing any offensive text will be taken to derive the identity of the mobile bearer. The investigation will be conducted against that particular person under the charges of Indian Penal Codes. It is learnt that in intense cases, the person will be sent to jail. The commission has also put an end to bulk messaging which will apply when two days will be left in the voting date. The charges for the messages will go in the account of candidate’s election expenses and if no name is mentioned in the message, then the political party will be charged with the money. Promotion on Whatsapp, YouTube, Facebook and other social networking sites will also require prior permission. The nation is all set to go on to vote from 7 April which will continue till 12 May 2014. The elections will be conducted in nine phases which is the longest duration so far.

Mamata, Mayawati, Jayalalitha: Know why these 3 women don't contest LS polls!

While everyone is busy in pondering over the question of who will form the government in 2014, it is also significant to notify the role of some of the major leaders like West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, BSP chief Mayawati and Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalitha in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. If the role of these three leaders is monitored, then it might become easier to put a guess of who will become the prime minister of the country and which party will rule. After realising their true value, these leaders denied to support UPA as well as NDA. The forthcoming elections are so crucial that major leaders including Bjp PM nominee Narendra Modi have decided to contest from two seats to consolidate the prospects of their parties. The leaders like Mayawati, Banerjee and Jayalalitha have a different plan set in their mind and even though they are going to mainly focus on the seats in their states, they can still widely affect the national elections. The three ladies are influential on the 167 seats of Lok Sabha The total seats of Lok Sabha in Tamil Nadu are 39, 80 in Uttar Pradesh and 48 in West Bengal that sum up to 167 in total. If Mayawati, Banerjee and Jayalalitha claim maximum of seats in their respective states, they will be able to play a major role in the formation of next government.

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