Eight, including LEAs personnel, injured in successive bomb blasts in Chaman

A scene of the incident CHAMAN: Around eight people, including police and Levies officials, were injured on Monday morning in back to back bomb blasts on Chaman?s Mall Road. According to the police, the first blast occurred near the office of the Special Branch on Mall Road in which one person was injured. In the second blast, which occurred near a police picket, around seven people were injured, including three police and Levies officials. The Mall Road has been closed for traffic after the bombing The injured have been shifted to a hospital. A police vehicle, motorcycle and rickshaw were damaged in the blast. Law enforcement agencies reached the site after the blast and began a search operation. The Mall Road has been closed for traffic and further investigations are under way. The exact nature of the blasts has yet to be ascertained. This is a developing story and will be updated as reports come in.

Govt dropped ?inflation bomb? on New Year: Bilawal slams hike in fuel prices

Pakistan Peoples Party Chairperson Bilawal slammed the hike in fuel prices on New Year and remarked that government dropped an ?inflation bomb? on the nation. Photo: File KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari slammed the hike in fuel prices on New Year and remarked that the government dropped an ?inflation bomb? on the nation. He further remarked that the government is resorting to open rivalry and robbing the people of their due rights. Reacting to the remarks, PM's Adviser on Finance Miftah Ismail said that the price of petrol on March 1, 2013, was Rs106.60. "The inflation bomb was dropped by PPP and not PML-N," he added. Govt hikes fuel prices; petrol goes up by Rs4.6 per litre The new rate of petrol would be Rs81.53 per litre, revised prices to take effect from 12 midnight On the other hand, Jamaat-e-Islami Chairperson Siraj-ul-Haq demanded that the government should reverse the increase in petrol prices. On Sunday, the government revised the prices petroleum products increasing the price of petrol by Rs4.6 per litre, petrol to be sold at Rs81.53 now. The price of high-speed diesel has been increased by Rs3.96, after which it would be available at Rs89.91 per litre. The price of light diesel has also been increased by Rs6.25 taking it to Rs58.37 per litre. The highest increase was recorded in the price of kerosene oil i.e. Rs6.79, taking it to Rs64.30 per litre. While announcing the incrase, Ismail said the prices were increasing in the international market as well, yet the rates of petroleum products were lesser in Pakistan compared to India, Bangladesh and Turkey. Ismail said Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi approved the increase in prices on the recommendation of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority.

Aerial firing on New Year?s Eve injures 19 in Karachi

Youth caught on camera while drive-by aerial firing (Photo:File) KARACHI: Nineteen people, including a woman, were injured in various parts of the city aerial firing during the New Year celebrations, in violation of clear orders by the Sindh government. Majority of firing incidents took place in the Nazimabad area. The wounded have been shifted to various hospitals for treatment. Chief Minister and Home Minister Sindh had ordered police to take strict action against those resorting to aerial firing. "No containers will be placed on the roads before New Year's Eve," Home Minister Sindh Sohail Siyal told journalists on Sunday morning, adding that none of the roads will be blocked with or without the use of containers. Karachi celebrates New Year's Eve with ease as roads cleared of containers Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah, Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal ordered removal of containers blocking access to Sea View Beach The minister, however, advised police to put into effect Section 144 to take action against those indulging in aerial firing or one-wheeling as well as those who ride motorcycles without silencers. "I, myself, will be there to monitor roads around Sea View," he said. Aerial firing results in a number of injuries and deaths all over the country. Seventeen people were reported injured as a result of aerial firing in various areas of the city last year during celebrations.

Saudi Arabia hikes gasoline prices

Diesel rates for trucks were left unchanged. Photo: Saudi Gazette/File DUBAI: Saudi Arabia raised local gasoline prices on Monday, state news agency SPA reported. The initiative, aimed at more efficient energy use, coincides with an ambitious reform plan to boost sources of revenue and wean the world?s top crude exporter away from oil. It said Octane 91 will sell for 1.37 Riyals a litre, up from 0.75 Riyals, while Octane 95 will sell for 2.04 riyals a litre, up from 0.90 Riyals. Diesel rates for trucks were left unchanged. According to a report in the Saudi Gazette, the prices include Value Added Tax (VAT). The regulatory authorities are monitoring the markets to ensure that prices are not manipulated and supplies are not interrupted, the report stated further. The Kingdom will slow plans to eliminate subsidies for a wide range of energy products, according to a new long-term fiscal plan in the 2018 state budget released last month. King Salman formally announced on December 20 that the target date for eliminating the government?s budget deficit would be pushed back to 2023 from the original target of 2020, in order to reduce pressure on economic growth. The Kingdom announced its broad reform initiative in 2016, saying it aimed to ?enhance the level and quality of services? provided by government and ?achieve a prosperous future and sustainable development.?

These are political cases, observes CJP in hearing against Nawaz as PML-N president

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed on Monday that the petitions challenging Nawaz Sharif?s appointment as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz are political in nature. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar is hearing several petitions against Nawaz's presidency, including those by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid, MNA Jamshaid Dasti, National Party and the Pakistan Peoples Party. The petitions state that Nawaz's appointment as party president is in violation of Clause 5 of the Political Parties Order 2002 and Article 17 of the Constitution. As the hearing went under way, the chief justice observed that Parliament is the supreme body of lawmaking in the country, adding that the court will strictly move according to the law. The chief justice inquired from the counsel of one of the petitioners according to which law can Parliament's legislation be nullified. Imran Khan challenges Election Reforms Act 2017 in Supreme Court The PTI leader also stated that the Act is against Political Parties Order 2002, and in direct conflict with Article 204, 175 of the constitution Notices will only be served when you make a case for them, Chief Justice Nisar responded to Rasheed's counsel's plea to issue notices in the case. "Tell us how many times has the Supreme Court nullified laws made by Parliament," he asked the counsel. The counsel for the National Party asked for time to prepare for the case, to which the chief justice disagreed and observed that the hearing will be held according to schedule later today. "Don't take the courts easy. The case will not be adjourned," the court asserted. The hearing is under way. PML-N re-elects Nawaz Sharif as party president The PML-N leader was elected unopposed during the meeting of party's general council Following Nawaz's disqualification as prime minister in July in the Panama Papers case, the ruling party managed to amend the Constitution to allow the former premier to retain his chairmanship of the PML-N. As a result, the Elections Act 2017 was passed by Parliament bringing Nawaz back as the party president despite his disqualification from the National Assembly.

Reports of Nawaz-Saudi deal ?baseless?: spokesman

The statement said that Nawaz has had long-standing relations with the country and there is no truth in these reports ISLAMABAD: The spokesman for former premier Nawaz Sharif has condemned as ?baseless? reports and claims by politicians that he is in contact with Saudi Arabia to escape accountability, and said Nawaz accepted court verdicts and is facing cases. The statement said that Nawaz has had long-standing relations with the country and there is no truth in these reports. He has even used his personal contacts for national interest, the spokesman added. Sharifs have old ties with Saudi Arabia, people shouldn?t object to visit: Khawaja Asif The foreign minister was speaking to Geo News and said that the Sharif brothers have spent eight years in exile in Saudi Arabia Nawaz and Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif?s multiple visits to Saudi Arabia have resulted in criticism by opposition parties. Both Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have questioned the reasons behind the visits. [embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2Czy5Qn style=center] Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah on Friday, responding to a question about Shehbaz?s visit to Saudia, said that it would be worrisome if this visit was aimed at resolving internal matters of the country. ?Pakistan is a nuclear country and should have its own policies and rule of rule. We do not need to knock on anyone else?s door.? The PPP leader added that the reason for the visit might be to get a new National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). When asked was the difference between this NRO and the one issued during the Musharraf government, Shah responded ?there is a huge difference. Democracy came in the country, an army general removed his uniform, Nawaz Sharif returned from exile. Parliament completed its tenure and there was a historic transfer of power. In this NRO it seems there are ongoing corruption cases. It is a problem of ladlas (dear ones)."

Hundreds of Indonesian couples ring in the new year at mass wedding

Couples take part in a mass wedding organised by the city government as part of New Year's Eve celebrations in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: REUTERS JAKARTA: Hundreds of Indonesian couples celebrated New Year?s Eve on Sunday night by tying the knot in a mass wedding in the capital Jakarta. Nearly 450 couples gathered in a large tent in the city centre just hours before midnight to pray with their families before signing marriage certificates. Government officials oversaw each brief ceremony. ?We wanted an unforgettable experience and we?re so happy that we decided to participate today,? said Hartiningish, a 38-year-old East Javanese bride, while a live band played a set of traditional and pop music in the background. Her husband, Ricky Rangga, 30, said the couple was grateful to the city administration for making the wedding possible. Many couples wore matching colours and colourful traditional Indonesian outfits, with some brides donning elaborate headdresses and grooms carrying traditional daggers called keris. A couple takes part in a mass wedding organised by the city government as part of New Year's Eve celebrations in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: REUTERS Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan congratulated those taking the plunge and said the city would now host the event every New Year?s Eve. The city government raised donation funds to pay for token gold dowries for the couples to exchange. Grooms in Indonesia traditionally present gold jewellery or money to brides on the wedding day. ?We?re planning to do this every year,? Baswedan said, after posing for photographs with some couples. A bride has her headdress adjusted while taking part in a mass wedding organised by the city government as part of New Year's Eve celebrations in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: REUTERS Security was tight around the event?s venue in the heart of the city, which took place just a few meters from the site of a militant attack in January 2016, when Daesh-linked radicals killed four people using guns and bombs. Tens of thousands of police and military personnel have been deployed in Jakarta and across the country to safeguard holiday celebrations as the country remains on high alert. One young pair from west Jakarta said they were looking forward to their honeymoon in the holiday island of Bali, where an active volcano, Mount Agung, remains on alert for an imminent eruption. ?If we?re together, there?s no need to be afraid of (the volcano), we will just enjoy,? Ruri Nurhayati, 22, said, just minutes after marrying her partner Andrianus, who goes by one name. The couple were accompanied by a wedding party of 20 friends and family members and joined New Year?s Eve revellers setting off fireworks in the city centre, while others left the venue in cars bedecked with flowers.

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5 Ancient Mysterious Patterns Across The Globe That Have Baffled Scientists For Ages

It is always fascinating to find a time capsule hidden in plain sight. With every new discovery about mankind's past, you start to paint your own version of the people you have never met. In any which way, the discoveries are only a window into a long-forgotten civilization as we come to terms with how little we are really aware of our own kind and just how many secrets the earth holds. Archaeologists, with the help of satellite-mapping technology, have discovered ancient lava domes in the Middle East. These mysterious structures have been found to run in different shapes, well into a number of thousands across Saudi Arabia. Thanks to Google earth, the newfound archaeological puzzle is the Middle East's own Nazca Lines and now has an equally curious name, 'The Works of the Old Men'. © Flickr/ilkerender So what are these mysterious structures and why are archaeologists so intrigued by their presence? Geoglyphs, as they are called, are ancient structures that resemble a certain shape or form when viewed from a higher ground. These are usually found on lava fields and run between 25 to 70 metres which makes the comprehensibility of the structure on ground level almost impossible. More than anything, geoglyphs should remind you of the crop circle phenomenon that Hollywood has romanticised over the decades. Even though they are miles apart on the reality scale, you do tend to wonder about the strangers that are stencilling their artwork onto our planet. History While researchers argue and contrast the purpose of these geoglyphs with their age and culture, they are nonetheless shrouded in eerie mystery. Estimated to have been created 2,000 years ago, the recently discovered domes are being referred to as 'wheels', because of the recurring design of a common circle with spokes inside. The existence of the geoglyph from over centuries ago makes it an antiquity that has been lying in plain sight of the people. Imagine walking and living by a heritage site for years without even knowing of its existence. Unlike the self-explanatory “Rakesh loves Sunita” inscriptions that we have popularised, the geoglyphs come with a purpose and these actually made life easier for the people. Scattered across continents, here is a list of geoglyphs that have managed to astound researchers and ordinary folks alike for decades since their discovery. The Nazca Lines in Peru © Youtube/Destination Tips The Nazca Lines was discovered in 1939 and is believed to date back to 200 BC to 500 AD. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is believed by many to have 'ritual astronomical functions'. Some theorists even believed it to be a medium of communication with alien visitors. Initially, researchers also theorised that the designs were aligned with astronomy; however, the theory was quickly dissolved and it continues to pique the imagination of archaeologists and researchers till date. Even though no conclusive proof was achieved on the subject, it remains to be an extraordinary feat of an ancient civilization. Marree Man © Marreehotel.com Found in Australia, the geoglyph is a gigantic impression of an indigenous man hunting birds with a stick. Touted to be the second largest geoglyph, it is currently at the mercy of geographical and natural forces that are slowly adding to the gradual fade of the Marree man. Theories suggest that it was created in the modern times. Discovered in 1998, there were suggestive reports that the Marree Man was the creation of American troops. However, upon the discovery of the site, miscellaneous items were found in a small pit nearby, which included a satellite photo of the Marree Man, a jar with a small flag of the US, and a note referring to the Branch Davidians; a religious group known for the Waco raid in 1993. In 1999, an anonymous fax from a hotel in Oxford, England, mentioned a plaque that was buried five meters south from the nose of the Marree Man that was intended to be dug up for a 'prominent US Media figure' before the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Officials discovered the plaque in the mentioned location, and it read “In honor of the land they once knew. His attainments in these pursuits are extraordinary; a constant source of wonderment and admiration.” Intriguing to say the least! Uffington White Horse © Wikimedia Commons Believed to be a representation of the legend of St. George slaying a dragon on the Dragon hill or his horse, this geoglyph was found in Oxfordshire, probably first created during the Bronze Age between 1200 B.C. and 800 B.C. The Uffington White Horse is the only geoglyph with a known prehistoric origin. Over the stretch there are close to 24 of these hill figures. Believed by many to date back to the Iron Age due to the similarity in the images found on coins from that period, more recent studies by the Oxford Archaeological Unit have placed the Uffington White Horse in the Bronze Age, around 3000 years ago. Other theorists however believe that it represents Epona, a Celtic horse goddess. Paracas Candelabra © Wikimedia Commons Dated back to around 200 BCE, the Paracas Candelabra is a geoglyph from the Andes region of Peru. The purpose and the people responsible for creating the geoglyph are still under study and consideration. The design appears to be a three-pronged fork, debated to resemble a cactus or a candle stand, hence the name. There are a number of theories surrounding the significance and meaning of the geoglyph, the most common one associating it with the symbol of the Incan creator god Viracocha; the trident. Believed to be the creator of the universe, his trident held magnificent reverence from the tribes. However, another popular theory is that the geoglyph is a symbol of the local Jimson weed, a hallucinogenic herb that may have held ritualistic significance. The gigantic design is a supposed beacon for people tripping on the drug. Atacama Giant © Wikimedia Commons Suggestive of its name, the Atacama Giant lies in the Atacama Desert, Chile, covering an area of 86 metres in height alone making it the largest geoglyph in the world. Believed by many to be a depiction of a deity of the local inhabitants from 1000-1400 AD, the producers of this geoglyph have been the dwellers of the region, the Tiwanaku and the Inca. According to some theorists, the geoglyph could be an astronomical calendar that would track the movement of the moon. Other theorists suggest more controversial purposes to the geoglyph, which is alien visitations. However, most historians argue that Atacama Giant does not only have a ritualistic significance but also a practical one, owing to the large number of geoglyphs scattered around the area. Suggestive of land marking by the ancient tribes, researchers believe that many of these geoglyphs served as markers for water sources and salt flats. Nevertheless, with its robot-like face, this one continues to baffle researchers and history enthusiasts alike. Like many other ancient structures, the geoglyphs seem to bring out as many questions without much answers, the most recent addition to them being the 'Works of the Old Men'. Perhaps there was a three-eyed raven at some point on this planet, and an army of dead people that fought many Jon Snows, but for now, all we have are these pretty drawings on the ground. How unbelievably far we have come as a race is the possibly the most important take away from every new discovery of an ancient past.

Latest 'Star Wars' passes $1 billion mark in third week: Disney

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is expected to surpass another Disney film, Beauty and the Beast, as the year´s top-earning film. Photo: Star Wars: The Last Jedi LOS ANGELES: The latest episode in Disney´s colossally popular Star Wars series has passed the $1 billion mark in worldwide revenues after just three weeks, a Disney spokesperson confirmed Sunday. That helped provide a positive spin to what has been a year of ups and downs for Hollywood, while giving a clear boost to Disney, now the only studio to surpass $5 billion globally for the last three years, according to Deadline.com. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is expected to surpass another Disney film, Beauty and the Beast, as the year´s top-earning film. Beauty took in more than $500 million domestically and exceeded $1.3 billion worldwide. Jedi is expected to earn about $65.6 million over this four-day holiday weekend in North America, for a $530.3 million total since its opening three weeks ago, said industry watcher Exhibitor Relations. The space saga stars Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver and two members of the series´ original cast, Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker and the late Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia. Its domestic earnings come on top of an international take estimated at $523 million for this eighth episode in the series. Jedi is now the year´s number one film in European theatres. If the estimates are borne out, Jedi will be the eighth highest-grossing domestic movie of all time, according to Variety.com. It opens in the enormous Chinese market on Friday. A struggle to fill seats Hollywood has had its struggles this year, however. Based on early estimates, North American revenue is expected to reach about $11.1 billion, down more than two percent from the year before, industry analysts comScore reported. With more people curling up to watch movies at home, theater attendance appears set to hit a 22-year low. But in the meantime, holiday viewership provided a boost not just for Jedi but for Sony´s Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. That family adventure, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, is expected to surge on Monday after trailing Jedi through most of the four-day weekend to earn a total $67 million in North America. In third was Pitch Perfect 3 from Universal, at $22.7 million for the four days. The cast, led by Anna Kendrick, follows the continuing adventures of glee singers the Bellas. Next was The Greatest Showman, from Fox, at $20.3 million. The musical features Hugh Jackman as legendary circus impresario P.T. Barnum. In fifth spot was the animated family feature Ferdinand, the story of a peaceful Spanish bull forced to take on the world´s most famous bullfighter. The Fox film netted $15.2 million. Rounding out the top 10 were: Coco ($8.8 million) Darkest Hour ($7.4 million) All the Money in the World ($7.2 million) Downsizing ($6.0 million) Father Figures ($5.5 million)

Costa Rican plane crash kills 12, including 10 US citizens

SAN JOSE: A Costa Rican plane crashed into woodland off a popular tourist beach on Sunday, killing 10 US citizens and two local pilots, the Costa Rican government said. The accident occurred in the mountainous area off the Punta Islita beach town in the province of Guanacaste, about 230 km (140 miles) west of the capital of San Jose. Enio Cubillo, director of Costa Rica?s civil aviation agency, said the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft operated by local company Nature Air had crashed minutes after take-off, but that officials had not yet determined the cause of the crash. The plane had passed a safety inspection about a month ago and was authorized to fly, Cubillo said. Although strong winds in the morning had forced the pilots to alter their itinerary, they had flown safely to Punto Islita to pick up passengers headed to San Jose. Nature Air said in a statement that it lamented the accident, without explaining the cause. The flight was part of a special charter service for 20 people, relying on two planes. The first plane, carrying 10 passengers, arrived safely in San Jose at 11:40 a.m. The second, with 10 passengers and two pilots, departed 20 minutes later. ?Regrettably this plane crashed a few minutes after taking off,? Nature Air said. A video of the crash site obtained from Costa Rica?s Security Ministry shows orange flames consuming a pile of blackened ruins, with plane parts scattered in an area thick with trees. Laura Chinchilla, who was president of Costa Rica from 2010 to 2014, said on Twitter that her cousin, one of the pilots, had died in the accident. A US State Department official confirmed that multiple U.S. citizens had died, but said the agency would not provide further details out of respect for the affected families. ?There are no people alive,? Costa Rica?s Security Minister Gustavo Mata said, adding that autopsies would be needed to confirm the total number and identities of victims because their remains were badly burned. Punta Islita, on Costa Rica?s Pacific Coast, is popular among North American and European tourists for its pristine beaches and lush landscape.

Deputy killed, six wounded in Colorado shooting

WASHINGTON: A sheriff´s deputy was killed and six others, including four deputies, were wounded Sunday in what police called a "disturbance" in a residential suburb near Denver, Colorado. The lone suspect was killed at the end of a two-hour standoff at an apartment complex in Highlands Ranch, 12 miles (20 kilometers) south of Denver, Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock told reporters in a televised briefing. Spurlock said he believed the suspect, whose identity had not yet been confirmed, was someone who had had "law enforcement contact on a number of occasions ... but no criminal history." He said the man used a rifle and fired at least 100 rounds, catching deputies off guard. "They all went down almost within seconds of each other," Spurlock told reporters. The dead deputy was identified as Zackari Parrish, 29, a married father of two young children. He had been on the force only seven months. ´Her life is over´ Spurlock, who had never lost a deputy before, described the agony of holding the hand of Parrish´s wife and "seeing in her eyes her life is over." All four wounded deputies were in stable condition, Spurlock said. He said all had been wearing protective vests. Two civilians were also wounded, but did not suffer life-threatening injuries. Spurlock was unclear on their identities. Deputies had responded to an early-morning call of a disturbance and, arriving at the scene, initially conducted talks with the suspect, who was barricaded in a bedroom, when he suddenly opened fire on the officers. "It was more of an ambush type of attack on our officers," Spurlock said. The wounded deputies tried to pull Parrish out of the line of fire but, hampered by their own wounds, were able only to crawl to safety. Police dispatched a heavily armed SWAT team. Officers from a total of five jurisdictions, including Colorado state police, responded. As the incident unfolded, the sheriff´s office advised local residents to shelter in place and stay away from windows. "My deepest condolences to the victims of the terrible shooting in Douglas County ... and their families. We love our police and law enforcement - God Bless them all!" President Donald Trump said on Twitter. The toll among deputies appeared to be one of the highest in a police-involved shooting since five officers in Dallas, Texas were shot to death and several others injured in July 2016 by a man angered by police shootings of black men. The area near Sunday´s shooting has been scarred by dramatic mass shootings in recent years, including the Columbine school shooting in 1999, which left 15 people dead, and the 2012 shooting at a movie theater in Aurora that claimed 12 lives. Both are within a half-hour´s drive of Highlands Ranch. Spurlock said the Aurora police chief met him at the hospital where his

Iran protesters rally again, defying warning of crackdown

LONDON: Anti-government protesters demonstrated in Iran on Sunday in defiance of a warning by authorities of a tough crackdown, extending for a fourth day one of the most audacious challenges to the clerical leadership since pro-reform unrest in 2009. Giving his first public reaction to the protests, President Hassan Rouhani appealed for calm, saying Iranians had the right to protest and criticize the authorities. But he warned, according to official media: ?The government will show no tolerance for those who damage public properties, violate public order and create unrest in the society.? Tens of thousands of people have protested across the country since Thursday against the Islamic Republic?s government and clerical elite. Police in the center of Tehran fired water cannon to try to disperse demonstrators, according to pictures on social media. Demonstrations turned violent in Shahin Shahr in central Iran. Videos showed protesters attacking the police, turning over a car and setting it on fire. Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of the footage. There were also reports of demonstrations in the cities of Sanandaj and Kermanshah in western Iran as well as Chabahar in the southeast and Ilam and Izeh in the southwest. Demonstrators initially vented their anger over economic hardships and alleged corruption, but the protests took on a rare political dimension, with a growing number of people calling on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to step down. Iranian security forces appear to have shown restraint to avoid an escalation of the crisis. Two people have been killed and hundreds arrested. The protests are the biggest since unrest in 2009 that followed the disputed re-election of then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Videos showed people in central Tehran chanting: ?Down with the dictator!? in an apparent reference to Khamenei. Protesters in Khorramabad in western Iran shouted: ?Khamenei, shame on you, leave the country alone!? The government said it would temporarily restrict access to the Telegram messaging app and Instagram, owned by Facebook Inc, state television quoted an informed source as saying. An Iranian reached by telephone, who asked not to be named, said there was a heavy presence of police and security forces in the heart of the capital. ?I saw a few young men being arrested and put into police van. They don?t let anyone assemble,? he said. A video showed a protester being arrested by police while a crowd shouted: ?Police, go and arrest the thieves!? in the northwestern city of Khoy. In the western town of Takestan, demonstrators set ablaze a Shi?ite Muslim seminary and the offices of the local Friday prayers leader, state broadcaster IRIB?s website said. Police dispersed protesters, arresting some, ILNA news agency said. BREAKING TABOO Demonstrators also shouted: ?Reza Shah, bless your soul.? Such calls are evidence of a deep level of anger and break a taboo. The king ruled Iran from 1925 to 1941 and his Pahlavi dynasty was overthrown in a revolution in 1979 by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Islamic Republic?s first leader. High prices, alleged corruption and mismanagement are fuelling the anger. Youth unemployment reached 28.8 percent this year. Economic indexes have improved under Rouhani?s government and the economy is no longer in dire straits. But growth has been too slow for an overwhelmingly youthful population, far more interested in jobs and change than in the Islamist idealism and anti-Shah republicanism of the 1979 revolution. The demonstrations are particularly troublesome for Rouhani?s government because he was elected on a promise to guarantee rights to freedom of expression and assembly. His main achievement is a deal in 2015 with world powers that curbed Iran?s nuclear program in return for a lifting of most international sanctions. But it has yet to bring the economic benefits the government promised. Ali Asghar Naserbakht, deputy governor of Tehran province, was quoted as saying by ILNA that 200 protesters had been arrested on Saturday. ?CARRIED AWAY BY EMOTIONS? Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi said some of those arrested had confessed ?they were carried away by emotions and set fire to mosques and public buildings?, adding they would face severe punishment. ?After giving thousands of martyrs for the Revolution, the nation will not return to dark era of Pahlavi rule,? he said. Police and Revolutionary Guards have in the past crushed unrest violently. The new protests could worry authorities more because they seem spontaneous and lack a clear leader. Yet analysts say Iran?s leaders believe they can count on support from many of the generation that took part as youths in the 1979 revolution because of their ideological commitment and the economic gains they have made under the government. In apparent response to the protests, the government backed down on plans to raise fuel prices, promised to increase cash handouts to the poor and create more jobs in coming years. ?We predict that at least 830,000 jobs will be created in the new year,? government spokesman Mohammad Baqer Nobakht said on state television on Saturday night. He gave no details. About 3.2 million Iranians are jobless. Protesters also expressed anger over costly interventions in Syria and Iraq, where Iran is engaged in a proxy war for influence against regional rival Saudi Arabia. TRUMP TWEETS US President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers offered implicit support on Sunday to the protesters. ?Big protests in Iran,? Trump said in a tweet. ?The people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism.? Nikki Haley, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said: ?The Iranian government is being tested by its own citizens. We pray that freedom and human rights will carry the day.? Rouhani rebuffed Trump?s comments, saying he had no right to sympathize with Iranians since he ?called the Iranian nation terrorists a few months ago?. Trump refused in October to certify that Tehran was complying with its 2015 nuclear deal and said he might terminate the accord. British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson tweeted it was vital that citizens have the right to demonstrate peacefully.

New year celebrations inductive of our achievements as nation, says DG ISPR

ISLAMABAD: Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor in his new year message tweeted that the jubilations and celebrations we see across the country tonight are indicative of our achievements and resolve as a nation. He added that as a nation, the country owes the achievement who gave their blood and lives for us. Remembering and thanking our ?Ghazis & Shuhada? for their noble sacrifices. Separately, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that the year 2018 is of immense significance for Pakistan, both internally and externally with monumental challenges, informed DG ISPR in a tweet. According to the army chief in the new year challenges can be converted into opportunities. He has said that part of the challenges has been overcome and the remaining ones shall be done ?together?. But amid all this, ?nothing can defeat the spirit of Pakistan?. About the outgoing year, General Qamar Javed has said that it was a momentous one.

Nation to decide country?s fate in 2018, says Nawaz

ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his new year message said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz completed milestone projects despite facing negative politics and political instability. Nawaz said that census was held after 19 years, positive developments were made in regards to mainstreaming Federal Administrative Tribal Areas (FATA), more than 10,000 megawatts were added in national grid by the federal government. He said that in 2018, the nation will decide from their vote whether they want the continuity of the progress and development, adding that his party won't leave the destiny of the country to sit-ins. The PML-N leader said that the nation has an opportunity to bury the politics of politics of deceit, lies, and abuses. He added that the people of Pakistan will also take oath to protect the sanctity of vote and will have to reaffirm that the qualification or disqualification of political leaders should only be held in the court of masses.

igbtbt 12/31/2017 Welcome to Funday Urdu Forum. Please feel free to b

igbtbt 12/31/2017 Welcome to Funday Urdu Forum. Please feel free to browse around and get to know the others. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. Please click here and find out your name post at the end of last page of topic. So lets start your 1st post with your introduction. How about that

2018 to be exciting as nation on threshold of change: Imran

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has urged the nation to thank Almighty Allah for making 2017 a year that has given a hope for justice as the entrenched corruption mafia crumbled because of the Supreme Court the [Panama case] joint investigation team (JIT). In a series of tweets on Sunday, Khan said the Supreme Court and Panama case JIT brought the powerful under the rule of law. He said: "The unravelling of the corrupt mafia has led to Sharif's cry of despair: 'Mujhay kyun nikala!'" The PTI chief said that for him, 2018 promises to be most exciting time in Pakistan's history as the nation stands on the threshold of change with justice and rule of law bringing an end to corrupt mafias. He expressed his hopes that new year would make the country great and prosperous for all its citizens.

8 Awesome Restaurants In Mumbai That Should Be On Ever Millennials List In 2018

Sweet aroma of herbs and vibrant mixes of ground spices are often linked with Indian dishes. But Mumbai does more than present you with a platter of that and offers you much more than just your basic traditional nouvelle cuisine. Brimming with some amazing chefs and top class restaurants, Mumbai meri jaan is one of the most diverse places and offers you an unforgettable dining experience. Be it traditional style haute cooking or fusion modus operandi, Mumbai's kitchen offers you a meal that you can savour with some memories. As 2018 kick-starts, it time to tingle our taste goblets and try out some of the best places that this city has to offer. Here is MensXP's pick of some of the coolest restaurants to visit this New Year. 1. Glasshouse- Hyatt (c) Facebook Glasshouse is bright and pleasing, busting each and every cuisine under one roof. From luscious sushi to creamy malai seekh kebab to some crispy salad and flavoursome soups, they have a menu that offers great choices. I suggest that you directly ask the chef for his recommendation, try their customised dishes as per your proclivity. However, the sushi and salmon with a tinge of orange are just too good to miss. If you are a foodie then don't even think twice and opt for their Sunday Brunch or buffet. P.S. Don't forget to try their vodka-based espresso cocktail! Price for two: Rs 5000 (approx) Address: Hyatt Regency Mumbai, Airport Sahar Road, Andheri East, Chakala 2. Patch Of Sky- Hotel Aureole (c) Facebook A dinner or lunch with your favourite person under the wide open sky sounds like the perfect plan and that's exactly what this place offers. Be it dipping in the pool or trying some sheesha and nibbling on some small bites, Patch Of Sky has everything under one roof. Despite being a pure vegetarian place, I can tell you that the food will definitely not be a thing that disappoints you here. Be it their roasted butternut squash or cottage cheese cannelloni or motichoor rabri parfait, they serve everything delicious! Price for two: Rs 1200 (approx) Address: Hotel Aureole, Bima Nagar Society, Sir Mathuradas Vasanji Road, Telli Gali, Near Andheri East Station 3. Hitchki (c) Facebook What makes this spot in Powai a great pick is how they have given a new spin to all our favourite childhood things. From evoking memories of our loved days to setting it in a contemporary style, this place brings in some of the regional cuisines in the most stylish ways that suits every palate. If you visit here, you must totally try Charlie Chapli Kebab, Crispy Chicken Khurana and PP's Risotto. Though the Laksa prawns biryani is their star! Price for two: Rs 1400 (approx) Address: 5, Transocean, Hiranandani Business Park, Lake Boulevard Road, Powai 4. Henpecked (c) Facebook This Kala Ghoda place has its own charm. It's interesting to see how the place sources all their ingredients directly from the farmers to give its patron the organic and fresh exotic food experience. Inspired by a traditional European Farmer's home, the interiors give you a very cozy dinning feel. If this is something you would like to try their wood fired oven hand-pressed Napolitano Pizzas topped with Buffalo Mozzarella and Burrata cheese and crispy Portobello burger, which will rock your world. And enjoy your meal with a goblet of fine wine fused with a cheese platter. Price for two: Rs 2000 (approx) Address: Apollo Street, Opposite Laxmi Vilas Bank, Mumbai Samachar Marg, Fort 5. Punjab Grill (c) Punjab Grill Well who doesn't like some of the desi swad? This place is a heaven for North Indian delight but what makes it even more special is their winter menu. Some Kaali Gajar di Kaanji and Jail Road Kharodey is a bliss that literally transports you to the narrow and crowded lanes of Chandini Chowk in Dilli ki sardi. And to the top it all, experience a true foodgasm with the Sarso Da Saag nal Makee Di roti with some white Makhand (I can't help but feel the half Punjabi in me getting hungry). If this isn't enough then try out their Methi Murgh with some butter garlic naan and end your meal with Gur Di Kheer and you are done for a week! Price for two: Rs 2000 (approx) Address: Ground Floor, Morya Landmark - II, Opposite Infinity Mall, Off Andheri New Link Road, Veera Desai Area 6. Rike Terrace Bar & Grill (c) Facebook For all the millennials out there, Rike just has to be on your list. From loud nonstop music to terrace open restaurant to scrumptious food to high spirit cocktail to sheesha, this is your one-stop place! With minimal yet beautiful decor, their menu is designed to perfection. Dig into their Lobster Bisque, Soy Grilled fish, Chicken espetada and get high on their signature Melon cooler and Green apple cider! Price for two: Rs. 1900 (approx) Address: C18, Dreamworks, Dalia Estate, Near Fun Republic, Above Doolally Taproom, Off New Andheri Link Road, Veera Desai Area, Andheri West 7. Kaitlyn's Beer Garden (c) Facebook More than the interior what really hooks you to this place is their conventional and innovative menu replete with Thai, Japanese and Indian fare. Now doesn't that already sound like a piquant treat? Trying to bring in the flavours of different cuisines, their dishes make the place right in your heart. I recommend you to try their 3 Mushroom Risottos, Cheese Stuffed Cigars with Guacamole that guarantees satisfaction to your taste bud. And if you would like to try something more than their in-house brew, go for some refreshing cocktails like The Patrick and Beer Mojito. Price for two: Rs. 1700 (approx) Address: 201-202, Khan House, Hill Road, Bandra West 8. Between Bread (c) Facebook Between some multigrain buns and whole wheat loafs, comes this small eatery that has its special place on our list. From scintillating shakes, fresh juicy sandwiches to some huge fat burgers, their menu offers you a lot more than just the basic bread. If burger is your bae and sandwiches your soulmate, then this is your must go-to place. Price for two: Rs.1000 (approx) Address: 2, Kalpitam Apartments, Opposite Hawaiian Shack, 16th Road, Pali Hill, Bandra West

Pope, in year-end message, says 2017 was marred by war and lies

Pope Francis arrives to lead the First Vespers and Te Deum prayer in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican December 31, 2017. REUTERS VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis in his year-end message said that 2017 had been marred by war, lies and injustice, and he urged people to take responsibility for their actions. At his last public event of the year, an evening vespers service in St. Peter?s Basilica, the pontiff said that humanity had ?wasted and wounded? the year ?in many ways with works of death, with lies and injustices?. While war was the most obvious sign of ?unrepentant and absurd pride?, many other transgressions had caused ?human, social and environmental degradation?. ?We must take responsibility for everything before God, our brothers and our creation,? he said. While the pope did not mention any specific events from 2017, he had made his voice heard on many of the world?s biggest issues over the course of the year. In April, Francis condemned the ?unacceptable massacre? of innocent civilians in a chemical weapons attack in Syria. Just a month ago, he visited Myanmar, where more than 600,000 Muslim Rohingya people have been forced from their homes and into neighboring Bangladesh, speaking with authorities in an attempt to mitigate the crisis. The pope also sought to encourage peace in Colombia during a trip in September and lobbied US President Donald Trump to address climate change issues in May. Amid heightening tensions between North Korea and the West, Francis expressed concern about nuclear arsenals. At the end of the service, Francis walked across St. Peter?s Square, stopping to shake hands and pose for pictures, as he paid a brief visit to the life-size nativity set up outside. On Jan. 1, the leader of the world?s 1.2 billion Catholics will say a Mass to mark the Church?s World Day of Peace.

2018 is of immense significance for Pakistan: COAS

The year 2018 is of immense significance for Pakistan, both internally and externally with monumental challenges, a tweet by ISPR DG Major General Asif Ghafoor quotes Chief of Army Staff as saying. According to the army chief in the new year challenges can be converted into opportunities. He has said that part of the challenges has been overcome and the remaining ones shall be done ?together?. In the line of duty: The uniformed martyrs of 2017 Geo.tv recalls the ultimate sacrifice by police and army officials in the outgoing year But amid all this, ?nothing can defeat the spirit of Pakistan?. About the outgoing year, General Qamar Javed has said that it was a momentous one.

Model Town incident: Rana offers to prove innocence before Qadri

[embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2DFPIx4 style=center] FAISALABAD: Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Sunday offered to prove his innocence before Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri over the killing of 14 PAT activists during Model Town anti-encroachment drive in June 2014. The incident on June 17, 2014, had claimed lives of at least 14 people and left over 100 others injured during an 'anti-encroachment operation' by Punjab Police outside Idara Minhajul Quran in Lahore's Model Town. "It was an incident, which neither had any planning, nor did anyone order police to shoot protesters," Rana told newsmen here on Sunday. "I invite Tahirul Qadri to sit with us and record statement after swearing on the Holy Quran." PAT-led APC gives Jan 7 deadline for resignations of Shehbaz, Sanaullah Qadri stepped up demands for resignation from Shehbaz Sharif and Rana Sanuallah after the release of the Model Town inquiry report Urging the PAT chief to speak on oath regarding the incident, he said they were also ready to prove their innocence. The PAT chief blames the Punjab government for the Model Town killings. "This isn't the first time we have been demanded to step down; efforts to create instability have been ongoing for past four-and-a-half years," the provincial minister said, maintaining that protest sit-ins, long march and rallies were all aimed at preventing development in the country. He said the nation has come to know of the reality of such people and his party would defeat the "conspiring forces" through vote in the next elections. Rana urged that those killed in Model Town incident should not be used for politics. Confirming his meetings with PAT leader Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, he said the PAT leader also came to Model Town to meet him. "The matter could not be settled with Gandapur; we want to compensate relatives of Model Town victims." He further said they discussed compensation after approval by the Punjab chief minister. The minister said he has immense respect for Pir Hameeduddin Sialvi, adding that a few individuals have been using Pir Sialvi and other scholars for the sake of politics. Criticising the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), he said Imran Khan would retire from politics in 2018. "Khan would tell tales to kids that once upon a time he stayed inside a container for 126 days," Rana said. "He would also tell them how he once demanded resignation from the PM." Model Town report The Punjab government, at the behest of the Lahore High Court, had made the report of the Model Town incident public on December 5. Police tried to cover up who gave orders to shoot: Model Town inquiry report Punjab govt issued commission report on Tuesday after orders by the Lahore High Court The inquiry report, prepared by Justice Baqir Najfi commission, says that police tried to cover up the facts regarding who gave orders to open fire on protesters. It adds that no legal opinion was sought from the Punjab advocate general prior to the start of the operation. The commission, in its report, also stated that on the ground, the standoff continued the whole night, resulting in minor injuries to police constables as well as PAT workers. It was after 9am that the DIG Operation arrived at the site, who called the SPs of different divisions of Lahore, and as a result the policemen started increasing in response to the swelling up of the PAT activists, the report says. The commission observed: "The level of cooperation in digging out the truth is that no police official from top to bottom, whether actively participated in the operation or not, did utter a single word about the person under whose command the police resorted to firing upon the PAT workers." Further, in its conclusion, the commission said, "It is shocking to note that everyone has deliberately but unsuccessfully tried to cover each other from possibly adverse legal effects."

Pakistani boy found incarcerated in Indian prison to be sent back Monday

Photo: File KARACHI: The Pakistani boy with hearing and speech disabilities, who was incarcerated in an Indian prison, will be sent back to his country on Monday, according to sources. As per information received from the foreign ministry, the boy named Hasnain will be sent to Pakistan via the Wagah border. According to reports, Hasnain?s parents identified him after the news of him being in Amritsar prison in India was aired on Geo News. As per the Indian media, the boy has been identified as Hammad Hassan. Hasnain, who is said to be 10 years old, was in a prison in Amritsar since May 17. The High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi contacted the interior ministry of Pakistan and requested them to find the boy?s parents. Pakistani boy with disabilities kept in observation home in India He was arrested on May 17 and found to be incarcerated in Amritsar prison An officer of High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi, Fouzia Manzoor, met the boy, when the latter drew the flag of Pakistan, communicating his nationality. Earlier, Hasnain was moved from the prison to an observation home in Faridkot, India, sources said. Observation homes are meant to temporarily keep juveniles during the period when an enquiry is pending on the child.

10 Smoking Hot Pictures Of Surveen Chawla That Will Definitely Warm Up Your Cold Nights

She is hot, sexy, cute and she knows it. But 'Hate Story 2' starlet Surveen Chawla surprised everyone when she posted a picture revealing that she has been married since 2015. Jaws dropped everywhere as no one had the faintest idea that the beautiful actress was already taken. Well, this piece of news broke hundreds of hearts. However, let's take your mind off her wedding news and bring you 10 smoking hot picture of this stunning beauty who can potentially set your screen on fire! That Look! (c) BCCL She Is Just Killing It! (c) Twitter Just Look At This HOTTIE Um thinking what ur thinkingð#just #traveldiaries2017 A post shared by Surveen Chawla (@surveenchawla) on Nov 12, 2017 at 12:17am PST Isn't The Temperature Soaring Already? (c) Twitter OMG....That Sexy Smile Total â¤ï¸in this sunflower yellow #Repost @raw_mango ã»ã»ã» @surveenchawla smiling in our sunny 'Ramyak' dress for @graziaindia December issue. #monkeybusiness #brocade #sanjaygarg A post shared by Surveen Chawla (@surveenchawla) on Mar 24, 2017 at 10:49pm PDT Black Is So Her Colour! And this is how we do it..Tonight in @kashmiraaofficial â¤ï¸for #starsscreenawards2017 @starplus Styling : @sanamratansi HMU : @harryrajput64 A post shared by Surveen Chawla (@surveenchawla) on Dec 3, 2017 at 10:40am PST Need Water ASAP You are imperfect...... permanently and inevitably flawed! And you are beautiful!....#truemeaning #getthisrightnow A post shared by Surveen Chawla (@surveenchawla) on Dec 24, 2017 at 4:20am PST Those Seductive Moves (c) Twitter Pretty Pretty! (c) Twitter Knocking Us Out In This Swimwear! (c) Twitter

Multiple deputies down in active shooter situation in Colorado: police

NEW YORK: ?Multiple? sheriff?s deputies were injured on Sunday morning after responding to a report of a domestic disturbance near Denver, the Douglas County Sheriff?s Office said. The injured deputies were responding to a call of shots fired in a residential area in Douglas County, about 10 miles south of Denver, around 6 a.m. local time. At least one deputy was injured, said Jason Blanchard, a spokesman for the sheriff?s office. The total number of injured and the severity of the injuries was not immediately known. ?No status on the deputies and no status on civilian injuries,? one Tweet read. Authorities had no information about a suspect or suspects and residents of the area were instructed to shelter in place.

Bright lights of Times Square beckon, even on a frigid New Year's Eve

NEW YORK: Hundreds of thousands of merrymakers are making the annual pilgrimage to New York?s Times Square on Sunday to witness the giant New Year?s Eve ball drop at midnight, undeterred by bitter cold and an unprecedented security operation. The temperature in midtown Manhattan is expected to plunge to about 10 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 12 degrees Celsius) in the waning hours of 2017, with a ?Real Feel? of 4F (minus 15C), according to AccuWeather.com. If forecasts prove accurate, 2017 would match 1962 as the second-coldest New Year?s Eve on record. Top honors go to 1917, when the mercury in Times Square dropped to 1 F (-17C) and the wind chill came in at -18 F (-28C). Madry Cox, 16, and his sister, Mattison, 19, traveled from Lubbock, Texas, to New York with their father for what he called a ?once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? to see the glittering spectacle that unfolds in Times Square every Dec. 31. ?It?s worth bearing the cold to see the ball drop on New Year?s Eve,? he said. ?It?ll be great.? Mattison Cox said she plans on wearing plenty of clothes, while still managing to look ?a little bit cute,? and drinking coffee to stay warm. ?I?ve only seen it in the movies,? she said. ?It?s nice to come witness in person.? This year, police expect roughly 2 million people to crowd into the general vicinity of Times Square, the bow-tie-shaped plaza formed by the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue in midtown Manhattan. That is roughly the same number as last year, when the temperature at midnight was a comfortable 44F (7C). A limited number of people will have access to fenced-off viewing areas within the square, giving them an unobstructed view of the giant crystal ball mounted on a pole atop a building at the northern end of the square. After hours of waiting, the throng will witness the ball?s one-minute descent ending at the stroke of midnight, when a barrage of fireworks and confetti will punctuate the moment. ?This event every year, New Year?s Eve, is one of the things that people all over the country, all over the world, most associate with New York City,? Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters last week. He said the annual rite of winter was a source of pride for the city and ?a huge, joyous event.? Revelers will count down the final hours of 2017 with a lineup of musical acts including Nick Jonas and Neil Diamond. Mariah Carey is returning as well, no doubt hoping to make amends for last year?s highly criticized performance marred by technical difficulties. Andy Grammer will perform his hit song ?Fresh Eyes? and John Lennon?s ?Imagine? just before midnight. Then comes the ball drop, a tradition that dates to 1907, three years after New Yorkers started gathering en masse in Times Square to usher in the new year. The lighted ball, actually a geodesic sphere 12 feet (3.7 meters) in diameter and covered by illuminated crystals, will descend 70 feet (21 meters) in the final 60 seconds. Thousands of police will be on hand, some of them heavily armed, others undercover. The show of force is part of a beefed-up security plan that follows a spate of attacks in the city and around the world that authorities have labeled as terrorist. The New York Police Department has provided officers with specialized training to stop any suicide bombers in response to an attempted bombing in a Times Square subway station walkway on Dec. 11. Police will also deploy observation teams trained to spot snipers, increase the number of explosive-detecting dogs and position more officers throughout the area this year. People who want to see the New Year?s Eve musical acts and other entertainment up close in Times Square will have to pass by dogs trained to detect explosives and heavily armed officers, go through a magnetometer to check for weapons, have their bags inspected, and then repeat all those steps a second time. Police will again use dump trucks filled with sand, police cars and cement blocks to close streets starting at 11 a.m. (1600 GMT) on Sunday. About 125 parking garages in the area will be emptied of all cars and sealed.

Ukraine hostages freed after police storm post office

Members of a police special operations unit gather outside a post office, where a man took people hostage, in Kharkiv, Ukraine December 30, 2017. REUTERS KHARKIV: Ukrainian police on Saturday freed the remaining hostages being held in a post office by an man believed to be strapped with explosives, and arrested the hostage taker after an hours-long standoff in the city of Kharkiv. ?All hostages freed in Kharkiv. The assailant was arrested,? President Petro Poroshenko wrote on Twitter, while Interior Minister Arsen Avakov published a picture of the man, with blood streaming down his face, being held by a policeman. None of the hostages were harmed. A Reuters witness saw special force police in green camouflage rushing to the entrance of the post office, a yellow-and-white building at a road junction in the northeastern city near the Russian border. In earlier statements, police said the man had entered the post office wearing a mask and taken 11 people hostage with the intention of robbing the place. Five of the hostages -- three women and two children -- were released early. Regional police chief Oleg Bekh told reporters the man had a history of antisocial behavior and drug-related offences. ?He probably needs the help of a psychiatrist,? Bekh said. ?During the detention, he received minor injuries. He was not in a normal state ... the hostages said he was drinking alcohol.? Police were able to enter the building after one of the hostages opened the door for them, Kharkiv regional prosecutor Yuriy Danylchenko told reporters. Police earlier said they had been in contact with the man via the telephones of the hostages, describing his manner as calm and not making any demands. Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Avakov, said employees at the post office and customers had been among the hostages. One of them had managed to call the police from inside the building. ?The patrolmen came to the place of the robbery in a few minutes,? Gerashchenko wrote on Facebook. ?The robber realized that he could not now safely leave the crime scene with the loot and he decided to declare that he was taking everyone hostage.? One of the children released by the hostage taker told local media that the man had put explosives into two bottles and threatened to blow himself up if police did not listen to him. The man also said he had brain cancer, according to the child. The man at one point voiced concern about the recent prisoner exchange between the Ukrainian authorities and pro-Russian separatists and thought more prisoners should have been released, police said. Ukraine and the separatists swapped hundreds of prisoners on Wednesday in the biggest such exchange since the outbreak of a conflict in the eastern Donbass region that has killed more than 10,000 people.

Singapore bar offers bitcoin New Year party package

Skyline was the first club in Singapore to accept cryptocurrencies when it started taking payments in Ethereum, a bitcoin rival. ? AFP SINGAPORE: A Singapore bar that bills itself as the world's highest cryptocurrency club is offering a New Year's Eve package that includes a limousine pick-up and butler service -- but it'll cost you a whole bitcoin. Skyline, on the 45th floor of a skyscraper overlooking the city-state's glittering waterfront, is promising partygoers a luxury-filled night out, with champagne and oysters and caviar. But it won't come cheap, with the price of bitcoin -- which has surged dramatically in recent months -- hovering around $13,000 on Sunday. The party at Skyline is called "Bianco", with revellers dressed in white enjoying a night of drinking and dancing before watching the New Year's fireworks display over the waterfront. While the club has run the night before, it is the first time they are offering a bitcoin deal, and customers can also pay in regular cash. Manager Subaish Rajamanickam said they had received a lot of inquiries about the package -- but no one had yet signed up for it. The New Year idea came after the bar ran other successful virtual currency-themed nights for people in the financial technology sector, which is booming in the city-state. Skyline was the first club in Singapore to accept cryptocurrencies when it started taking payments in Ethereum, a bitcoin rival. "We had a couple of cryptocurrency after-parties here, and we have also themed a night ... called Crypto Thursdays," Rajamanickam told AFP. "So that basically got the ball rolling for cryptocurrency acceptance here at Skyline." But most transactions are still in regular cash and there was scepticism among some customers about using bitcoin, due to its surging price and recent volatility. "It's too expensive to buy alcohol or (conduct) any transaction using cryptocurrency in today's environment," said Spencer Campbell, a 47-year-old financial consultant. Created in 2009 as a piece of encrypted software, bitcoin has been used to buy everything from pizza to cars, and is increasingly accepted by major companies such as online travel giant Expedia. It has surged more than 25-fold this year and hit a record of around $19,500 earlier in December. Analysts have put the recent increases down to a decision by US regulators to allow bitcoin futures to trade on major exchanges. But bitcoin has slipped back after a series of warnings from governments -- including Singapore -- and analysts, about the risk and volatility associated with cryptocurrencies. It fell more than 11 percent after South Korea -- a hotbed for cryptocurrency trading -- announced curbs on anonymous trading of virtual currencies on Thursday.

Russia indicts St Petersburg blast suspect on terrorism charges: investigators

An interior view of a supermarket is seen after an explosion in St Petersburg, Russia, in this photo released by Russia?s National Anti-Terrorism Committe on December 28, 2017. National Anti-Terrorism Committe/Handout via REUTERS MOSCOW: Russia?s Investigative Committee said on Sunday it had indicted on terrorism charges a suspect who allegedly organized and carried out a bombing that injured 13 people in a St. Petersburg supermarket this week. The committee said in a statement that the suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed by investigators, ?deliberately made and planted a homemade explosive device? that exploded on Wednesday at a branch of the Perekrestok supermarket chain in Russia?s second city. The suspect told investigators he had been motivated by ?hatred toward the organizers and participants? of mindset training sessions he used to attend, the committee said without providing further detail. Investigators said the suspect had also hidden two USB drives near the site of the blast containing information about his actions and photographs of the explosive device. The suspect will undergo psychological testing to assess his sanity. Investigators said has been followed by mental health professionals since the age of 19 for undisclosed issues. The indictment did not say how old he is now. The Daesh group claimed responsibility for the blast but did not provide evidence to support its assertion. The claim came after Russian President Vladimir Putin said the explosion, caused by what investigators said was a homemade bomb packed with pieces of metal, was an act of terrorism.

Govt hikes fuel prices, petrol goes up by Rs4.6 per litre

[embed_video1 url=http://ift.tt/2DCJ1vS style=center] ISLAMABAD: The government revised prices of petroleum products on Sunday increasing the price of petrol by Rs4.6 per litre. PM's advisor on finance, Miftah Ismail, announced revised rates of petroleum products. The new rate of petrol would be Rs81.53 per litre. The price of high-speed diesel has been increased by Rs3.96, after which it would be available at Rs89.91 per litre. The price of light diesel has also been increased by Rs6.25 taking it to Rs58.37 per litre. The highest increase was recorded in price of kerosene oil i.e. Rs6.79, taking it to Rs64.30 per litre. Ismail said the prices were increasing in the international market as well, yet the rates of petroleum products were lesser in Pakistan compared to India, Bangladesh and Turkey. He said PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi approved increase in prices on the recommendation of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA). The revised prices will take effect from 12am tonight.

Four Indian soldiers killed in IoK attack

SRINAGAR: A group of attackers stormed an Indian paramilitary camp in occupied Kashmir early Sunday leaving four Indian soldiers dead, a spokesman for the occupying Indian forces. Unknown attackers lobbed grenades and fired automatic rifles to enter the camp of Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) outside the main city of Srinagar, triggering a fierce exchange of fire as hundreds of soldiers and special counterinsurgency police surrounded the area. "Three soldiers died in combat and another died of cardiac arrest during the ongoing operation. Three terrorists were also killed," CRPF spokesman, Rajesh Yadav told AFP. Three paramilitary troopers were wounded, Yadav said. It is unclear how many personnel were inside the camp during the attack, which came just days after Indian forces killed a top leader of a pro-freedom group in a shootout nearby.

Six dead as seaplane crashes into Sydney river ahead of New Year celebrations

Police said they did not know the cause of the crash, nor the identities of the five passengers- Reuters/ file photo SYDNEY: A seaplane crashed into a Sydney river on Sunday, killing six people on a ?wine and dine? sightseeing flight ahead of the city?s New Year?s Eve celebrations at the harbor. Police said they did not know the cause of the crash, nor the identities of the five passengers, but were speaking with several witnesses who were in boats on one of the waterways? busiest days of the year. The pilot was the sixth victim. Several Australian media reported that four of the victims were British nationals, although that was not immediately confirmed by police. In London, the Foreign Office said its officials were in contact with local authorities in Sydney. ?We stand ready to provide consular assistance,? a Foreign Office spokeswoman said. The aircraft was operated by Sydney Seaplanes, a major tourism operator in the city. Several visiting celebrities have flown on the company?s sightseeing planes, including pop stars Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith, tech mogul Bill Gates, comedian Jerry Seinfeld and actor Cuba Gooding Jnr. Police said the seaplane was returning the party of five people from a waterside restaurant in Sydney?s north to the Sydney Seaplanes headquarters in Rose Bay in the city?s east when it crashed into the water, immediately sinking. ?We have spoken to a number of witnesses,? Acting Superintendent Michael Gorman told reporters, adding that forensic police would inspect the plane to assess when it could be raised from the seabed. ?It?s too early in the investigation so we don?t know why the plane crashed.? Gorman said police were liaising with Sydney Seaplanes to identify the victims and their families would be contacted before they were named publicly. Sydney Seaplanes has been operating since 1938, originally flying from Australia to Britain, a journey that required thirty refueling stops along what became famous as the ?Kangaroo? route.

Iran temporarily restricts access to social media

People protest near the university of Tehran, Iran December 30, 2017 in this picture obtained from social media. REUTERS LONDON: Iran will temporarily restrict access to some social media and messaging apps to control protests, Iranian state television quoted an informed source as saying on Sunday. ?It has been decided in the highest security level to restrict access to Telegram (messaging app) and Instagram,? the source said.

Tamil film star to enter politics in India's 'Detroit'

A picture of actor Rajinikanth is shown by a supporter as they celebrate the launch of his political party in Chennai, India, December 31, 2017. REUTERS NEW DELHI: A big star of India?s Tamil-language movies, Rajinikanth, said on Sunday he is launching a political party, adding drama to a heated political scene in a state with a history of film stars becoming chief ministers. Tamil Nadu, which accounts for the bulk of India?s automobile exports, has been in political limbo since the death of Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa in December 2016. Jayalalithaa was a popular actress before joining politics. Rajinikanth, called the ?superstar? by his fans, enters the political scene at a time Prime Minister Narendra Modi?s party is looking to make inroads into the southern state that?s been ruled by two south Indian parties for decades. Over the past five decades, Tamil Nadu has chosen between the two Dravidian parties, both of which claim anti-caste social justice and secularism as their core ideology. Modi?s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not win a seat in Tamil Nadu?s 2016 elections. The next state election is due in 2021. ?I?ll push for spiritual politics without caste or religious leanings,? Rajinikanth said. ?If I come to power and am not able to deliver in three years, I?ll resign. Democracy is in a state of distress in the state.? In Tamil cinema, Rajinikanth often plays larger-than-life characters that project him as a savior of the masses. The actor, who has been in a few Hindi movies, has created a frenzy among fans ahead of every release. But opponents say politics would be different. Subramanian Swamy, a BJP leader, dismissed Rajinikanth?s plunge into politics as ?media hype?. Tamil Nadu, a state of more than 70 million people, is sometimes called the ?Detroit of Asia?. It is home to factories of companies including BMW, Daimler, Hyundai, Ford, Nissan and Renault. Actor Rajinikanth greets his supporters after announcing the launch of his political party in Chennai, India, December 31, 2017. REUTERS

Safdar working in Ali Dar?s company is not Nawaz?s son-in-law: documents

ISLAMABAD: The person named Safdar employed in the company of Senator Ishaq Dar?s son is not former prime minister Nawaz Sharif?s son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar, but someone else with the same name, reveal details obtained by Geo News. According to the documents, the Safdar employed in Ali Dar?s Hazrat Data Sahib (HDS) Tower in Dubai has been working as a cleaner there since 2016. He is a resident of Khanewal. The documents contradict the claims made by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairperson Imran Khan, regarding Nawaz?s son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar being employed in Ali Dar?s company. Dar refutes Imran?s allegations, says no business relations with Sharifs The former finance minister was speaking to Shahzeb Khanzada in the Geo News show ?Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kaay Saath In a news conference held a few days ago, Imran said that Nawaz?s son-in-law was employed in Ali?s company. The PTI chief also presented documents on his claims. Imran has also claimed that Ishaq Dar was involved in money laundering and was a frontman for the Sharifs. However, the former finance minister has rejected the claims, saying his family has no business relations with the Sharifs. While speaking on Geo News show Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath, Ishaq also said that Imran always levelled baseless allegations against others and has become "a master in doing so". Besides, Ishaq Dar alleged that Imran used to visit him and his sons? offices in London to ask for charity for his cancer hospital.

15 dead in suicide attack on Afghan funeral: officials

Afghan policemen investigate at the site of a suicide bomb attack in Nangarhar province, March 5, 2012. ? Reuters FILE JALALABAD: A suicide attacker blew himself up at a funeral in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, killing at least 15 mourners and wounding another 14, officials said, capping a deadly year for civilians. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Taliban and Daesh (Islamic State) militants have stepped up assaults in recent months, with ordinary Afghans bearing the brunt of the violence. "The death toll of the attack targeting a funeral ceremony in Behsud district of Nangarhar has increased to 15," Nangarhar governor spokesman Attaullah Khogyani told AFP. Another 14 were wounded. All the casualties were civilians. An earlier statement from the governor?s office said 12 people had been killed in the attack near the provincial capital Jalalabad. The bomber struck during the funeral ceremony for a former governor of Haska Mina district who died recently of natural causes, the statement said. Provincial health director Najib Kamawal confirmed the toll. Photos posted on Twitter and Facebook purportedly of the scene showed pools of blood, clothes and shoes scattered on the ground. Other photos showed bodies lying in blood and a plume of black smoke rising into the sky. Terrified mourners, mostly elderly men, could be seen running from the scene. While the Taliban are still responsible for the majority of attacks and casualties across Afghanistan, Daesh militants have been on a rampage this month. The incident in Nangarhar, a restive province bordering Pakistan and a stronghold for Daesh, comes days after the group claimed an assault on a cultural centre in Kabul that left 41 people dead and more than 80 wounded. That followed a Christmas Day attack, also claimed by Daesh, near an Afghan intelligence agency compound in the Afghan capital that left six civilians dead. On December 18, militants from the group stormed an intelligence training compound in Kabul, triggering an intense gunfight with police, two of whom were wounded. The Middle Eastern militant outfit has gained ground in Afghanistan since it first appeared in the region in 2015, and has scaled up its attacks in Kabul and elsewhere, including on security installations. The latest news comes at the end of a particularly deadly year for Afghans, with the number of civilian casualties on track to be one of the highest on record since the US invasion in 2001. More than 8,000 civilians were killed or wounded in conflict-related violence in the first nine months of this year, according to data compiled by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. Last year?s civilian casualty toll of 11,418 was the highest for a single year since the UN began systematically documenting civilian deaths and injuries in 2009.

This Bugatti Is Among The Most Expensive Auctioned Cars In This World In 2017

Before this year ends, we decided to do a round up of the 10 most expensive cars sold at auction this year. There are too many Ferrari's but don't miss the Bugatti, it's a heart breaker. 1. 1956 Aston Martin DBR1 Sold at: $22,550,000 Source: RM Sotheby's Don't be fooled by its calming aquamarine body, not only is this rare, one of five, Aston Martin a race track champion, it also bears the crest of having been the most expensive British car to have been auctioned at a price tag of above $20 mil. 2. 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione Sold at: $17,990,000 Source: RM Sotheby's Of course it's a Ferrari, we're surprised it was a Ferrari to make the top of the list, but runner's up to an Aston Martin isn't bad either and this performance car is a sight for sore eyes! Now, what you're looking at is another vintage performance rarity, only eight units if it having being produced in its lifetime and made purely for circuits! 3. 1995 McLaren F1 Sold at: $15,620,000 Source: Top Car Rating The lines on its body are proof that the vehicle is built for speed and agility with a hint of showmanship. Known to be a rare production F1 vehicle, and the 37th F1 out of a total of 64, the 1995 F1, with seven sisters, is the third most expensive automobile to have been auctioned in 2017. 4. 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Sold at: $14,520,000 Source: Forbes Another Ferrari, and there'll be more, but what's special about this racer is its stunning silver uniform that remains in pristine condition despite its racer past. This 275GTB/C is one of the 12 made! 5. 1970 Porsche 917K Sold at: $14,080,000 Source: CTV News Auctioned off in its original ad markings from its glory days (the car was featured in the Le Mans movie released in 1971), this Porsche performance vehicle looks nothing short of a spacecraft with its flying rear and curvy fascia, and is the second most expensive German make to this day! It appears that the car had to be restored to this shape after being found in worn condition in a French warehouse. 6. 2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta Sold at: $10,043,000 Source: RM Sotheby's This would be the last LaFerrari Aperta of its kind, which was auctioned off to support a children's organisation not long ago. The Aperta was the most valuable 21st gen car to have been auctioned at a hefty price tag of above $10 mil. 7. 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Sold at: $9,504,550 Source: Gullwing Motor Cars What do you fancy more, a romantic drive or a straight line in this gorgeousness? Well, if you spent your entire fortune on it, you'd probably do neither and just admire it from a distance. This vintage Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider is made for love, admiration and $9,504,550! 8. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Sold at: $8,305,000 Source: Goodingco Yes, the billionth Ferrari on the list, what can we say, they're valuable by birth and this one's a keeper! 9. 1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Sold at: $8,000,000 Source: Bonhams Ah, a highly aerodynamic lightweight coupe that was catchy then as it is now, the Jaguar E-Type is a wonder to behold and a breeze on the tracks. Jaguar even converted one of its kind to an electric variant and showed it off at the Frankfurt Motor Show this year. 10. 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Cabriolet Sold at: $7,700,000 Source: RM Sotheby's Don't be surprised, Bugatti has a long spread heritage and this vintage cabriolet fetched a good price for good reason! It looks like it drove straight into an intensely romantic scene from a movie! But that's not all that it is valued for, it's one of only four ever produced in its lifetime.

2017 In Memes: The Best And Most Iconic Memes Of This Year That Made Us Laugh Our Asses Off

I think we can all agree that 2017 was the worst year ever, but maybe all of us have the same feelings for every passing year. Whatever may be the case, the only thing that made 2017 actually bearable were the memes, you can fight me on this. It was such a good year for memes, both quantity and quality wise, and when everything was dividing us, memes were the only thing there to unite us. There were way too many memes that made us laugh in 2017, that it is nearly impossible to list them all, so let's focus on the most popular ones for today, and relive the year in memes. 1. Distracted Boyfriend A random stock photo of a boyfriend looking over his shoulder at a beautiful stranger while the woman already on his arm looks at him in disgust became the biggest thing on the internet. The picture in itself was hilarious, but with people adding their own twist to it, it was honestly the best thing on the internet at one point. A nap is always a good idea, though. Dis one right here http://pic.twitter.com/KcAWDmJxGf — gotta$$$migraine (@gxngstawifi) August 24, 2017 Spidey always wins. ok last one http://pic.twitter.com/wvrar35YBy — crân-buri-ghân (@bromanconsul) August 25, 2017 Ooh, shots fired. http://pic.twitter.com/DCjtlfb2yM — Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) August 25, 2017 2. Kangana Ranaut One of the biggest and most talked about controversies of this year was the public spat between Kangana Ranaut and Hrithik Roshan. While I still don't know what's happening between these two, we all still got a hilarious meme out of it, because of the quotes Kangana gave during her tell-all interview on 'Aap Ki Adalat'. So expensive. When someone orders a bisleri bottle in the restaurant. http://pic.twitter.com/VO3oRkB3PO — Smoking Skills (@SmokingSkills_) September 7, 2017 Sab log. Me, looking at everyone sitting in office post 6 pm http://pic.twitter.com/XPQpy8Tz8Z — Akshar (@AksharPathak) September 7, 2017 Every mom ever. Wen me and Dad do all the shopping without bargaining Mom : http://pic.twitter.com/y8rmkeasdC — SwatKat- The dancing Rajput ð (@swatic12) September 7, 2017 3. The Trivago Guy Yes, we've all seen the Trivago ads, and we've all gotten completely annoyed by them. The Trivago guy was everywhere this year and the only way people on the internet can deal with irritating stuff is by making memes about it, obviously. Yes, please search. Relative: Humlog aa rahe hai tumhare gharpe do hafte ke liye Me: http://pic.twitter.com/bhY8OquRmG — P.R. (@pr_akash_raj) July 15, 2017 Did you notice this in the ads? These iconic people gave justice to SRK's infamous step http://pic.twitter.com/DDutUh4hHm — Angoor Stark ð (@ladywithflaws) July 17, 2017 Kiya hai? I did thisâºðð http://pic.twitter.com/VqF5aDwaBk — Mayur (@shaitan_ladkaa) July 14, 2017 4. Dank Irrfan A few months ago, All India Bakchod gave us arguably the best and most versatile meme of the year featuring none other than Irrfan Khan. Turning the actor into 'Dank Irrfan', AIB recreated all the iconic memes with him, and honestly these Dank Irrfan memes are more popular than the original ones. CID over Sherlock, obviously. CID IS BAE http://pic.twitter.com/bW83tRN9BC — aditi (@oreoftziam) May 17, 2017 Loophole. CID IS BAE http://pic.twitter.com/bW83tRN9BC — aditi (@oreoftziam) May 17, 2017 Poora bik gaya. Kangana: "K. Jo is the flag-bearer of nepotism." Me: "Samajh nahi ayaa. My vocab is not great. :(" Kangana: http://pic.twitter.com/LO4CKOGetd — Imaan Sheikh ð (@sheikhimaan) May 17, 2017 5. Bald Sonu Nigam Back in April, Sonu Nigam became the most talked about person after a few tweets, and I don't think that was his intention at all. After he tweeted about being woken up by the loudspeakers at a mosque near his house, everything just escalated quickly and got out of hand. Since, apparently he offended religious sentiments, a reward of â¹10 lakh was out for anyone who shaved Nigam's head. Then he did what anyone in that situation would do (actually, no one would ever be in that situation, tbh), he went ahead and shaved his head himself. His shaved head became the newest meme, and I just feel so bad for him, the guy juat wanted some sleep, and the whole thing turned into a religious debate. How to make the most of any opportunity. Sonu Nigam: I'll get bald. Now pay me those 10L of Fatwa Money Anupam Kher: I also have problems with the Azaan loudspeakers.. — Aladdin (@Alllahdin) April 19, 2017 He's switching careers now. New fast and furious member. http://pic.twitter.com/qaOjMstFjd — Abhay (@Woh_ladka) April 19, 2017 Very bald. That's a bald move from Sonu Nigam. https://t.co/ZsfNFsr02g — Dharmesh Gandhi (@dharmeshG) April 19, 2017 6. KBC Memes Everyone loves 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', and everyone loves KBC memes even more. Adding their own twist to Amitabh Bachcan's iconic lines from the show, the internet probably got its most wholesome meme of the year with this. Oh, how the tables have turned. Me: *breaks glass* Mom: haan sab todd do. Mom: *breaks glass* haath slip ho gaya hehe Me: But... Mom: http://pic.twitter.com/guSBx33GqW — Anurag Verma (@kitAnurag) October 13, 2017 So polite. Government officers when you go there to get something done at a lunch time. http://pic.twitter.com/LpTZO2fLLm — डि.à¤à¥. (@itsdhruvism) October 15, 2017 Too relatable. Me after studying for 33 seconds http://pic.twitter.com/ndxeGGTSmM — P.R. (@pr_akash_raj) October 15, 2017 7. Salt Bae Obviously, when talking about the memes of 2017, you can not leave out everyone's bae – Salt Bae. Turkish restaurateur Nusret Gökçe posted an Instagram video showing off his exceptional skills, but in interesting and rather amusing style, caught the internet's attention. Little did he know that he would become the first big meme of 2017. Twitter Twitter Twitter 8. Blinking White Guy A guy blinking and as if saying 'wow is this really happening' was probably the most 2017 meme ever. It honestly sums up the year so well, it's incredible. We've all been there. me: ill take a biology class, im smart enough for this just watch me teacher: cells me: http://pic.twitter.com/fHJJsPLioO — ini ð (@eskbl) February 5, 2017 Oh, no. Her: wow you got a good job, you single, you dont play games, and you got your own place. Like whats wrong with you. Me: I'm 5'7 Her http://pic.twitter.com/EcTpPulgcF — Unfaithful Sith Lord Nigga (@iTrap4TheHokage) February 17, 2017 Why, just why? Account balance: $100.00 Me: *spends $2.91* New account balance: $97.09 Me: http://pic.twitter.com/yEhkqBvMTz — bald-headed auntie. (@PLAIDvillain) February 17, 2017 9. Roll Safe I feel like this is such a versatile meme and can be used with so many things. This came out in the beginning of the year, and truly went international. So full props to it. The world is there. You don't need to travel the world if you're at the Sharda university. http://pic.twitter.com/Np1UCKyRSR — Kshitiz Bhardwaj (@ImmaJoking) February 6, 2017 Relatable. If you go to office on Sundays too, you won't dislike Monday. http://pic.twitter.com/xbGcx5MzLs — The Viral Fever (@TheViralFever) February 4, 2017 Genius. http://pic.twitter.com/l7RbMykqE3 — E.O.O (@Tobi_Edinbus) January 31, 2017 10. Priyanka Chopra's MET Gala Outfit Most of the time, PeeCee and her fashion choices are at point but the gown she wore at the MET Gala this year was a little questionable to say the least. But hey, it gave birth to some of the most hilarious memes of the year and in the end that's the only thing that matters, to be quite honest. It's way out of hand. http://pic.twitter.com/l7RbMykqE3 — E.O.O (@Tobi_Edinbus) January 31, 2017 The secret's out. Have you guys always wondered where Mr. Perfectionist Aamir Khan shot the Guzarish song for Ghajini? Me too. http://pic.twitter.com/r0Wc5J5ejQ — Akshar (@AksharPathak) May 2, 2017 Someone plan this ASAP. If everyone in India decides to wear this for one day & walk 100 metres - we can clean India in one hour #SwacchBharat http://pic.twitter.com/E1XV5J7eZu — Atul Khatri (@one_by_two) May 2, 2017 11. Bol Na Aunty Aaun Kya One of the biggest examples of cringepop we've gotten this year, Omprakash Mishra's controversial “Aunty Ki Ghanti” instantly went viral. The song became so popular that hundreds of strangers in New Delhi actually met just to sing this song in public. But, after it was pointed out that the lyrics are extremely misogynistic, it soon died down. The correct way. No chance now. Please tag. 12. Covfefe A meme list will always be incomplete with Donald Trump, obviously. This year we've got a lot of cryptic tweets, but none of them went as viral as Trump's covfefe. People are still trying to figure out exactly what it meant, but everyone jumped to give their own explanations. Kaafi. Kaafi high. http://pic.twitter.com/J9hPRCAzPc — All India Bakchod (@AllIndiaBakchod) May 31, 2017 Coffee is way too mainstream. #covfefe http://pic.twitter.com/o15XqBuuKW — Vishal (@vichupedia) May 31, 2017 What a realization. When you're deep in #covfefe memes but realize that the man responsible for the tweet also has the nuclear codes http://pic.twitter.com/g9U7VGVfrV — Isaac Jahns (@isaac_jahns) May 31, 2017 Well, that's it for this year, I just hope for a meme filled 2018, that's all.

Leaders shouldn?t take steps fanning flames of nationalism: Chandio

KARACHI: Pakistan People?s Party? senior leader Maula Bukhsh Chandio said on Sunday that the government should refrain from taking measures which could potentially fan the flames of nationalism. The PPP leader was speaking to media at Bilawal House, where he expressed his reservations over the alleged move by the federal government inhibiting flow of water to Sindh. Chandio said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has never displayed any nationalistic facet through its decisions and actions. The leader said that the water to the province was cut off without any schedule, which is making lands barren. Chandio said that the federal government on the subject said that it has been done on the orders of the National Accountability Bureau, adding that the newly appointed NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal is a fair person and any injustice shouldn?t be done to Sindh. Chandio said institutions have all the strictness for us, although the PPP respects the judiciary.

In the line of duty: The uniformed martyrs of 2017

Although incidents of terrorism have decreased compared to their peak around a decade ago, the year 2017 witnessed several attacks ? including suicide bombings and cross-border assauls ? in which security officials gave the ultimate sacrifice. The Pakistan Army lost several of its brave officers and soldiers in terrorist attacks from Afghanistan as well as during anti-terrorist operations inside the country. Similarly, the civilian law enforcement agencies, especially the police, also shared the brunt of terrorism, with several junior officials being shot dead in Karachi and seniors killed in suicide attacks in Balochistan and KP. Here, Geo.tv remembers some of those who laid down their lives in the line of duty this year. May they rest in peace. DEC 25 Three Pakistan Army soldiers were martyred when Indian forces opened fire along the Line of Control, a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated. The incident occurred in the Rakhchikri sector of the Line of Control (LoC). One other soldier was injured in the incident of unprovoked firing. DEC 22 The FC troops martyred in Mohmand Agency. Photo: ISPR Three troops of the Frontier Corps (FC) were martyred in cross-border firing from terrorists on the Pak-Afghan border, the ISPR said. The FC personnel were busy constructing a new border post when the attack took place in the Shunkrai area of Mohmand Agency. DEC 12 Two officials of Pakistan Army were martyred in a terrorist attack in North Waziristan Agency, according to the ISPR. The army's media wing said that Second Lieutenant Abdul Moeed and Sepoy Basharat were martyred after terrorists fired on their vehicle from the surrounding mountains. Sepoy Basharat, 21, hailed from Danyor village of Gilgit-Baltistan while Moeed, also 21, hailed from Burewala, Vehari. Moeed had recently graduated from the PMA and belonged to the Northern Light Infantry regiment. Second Lieutenant Abdul Moeed (left) and Sepoy Basharat were both 21 years old. Photo: ISPR DEC 1 A soldier was martyred in an IED blast in Chamarkand area of Mohmand Agency, informed security officials. The soldier was martyred on his way to the check post while carrying water for his comrades. Another soldier accompanying the deceased was injured in the incident. NOV 24 AIG Noor had earlier served as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Elite Force AIG. Photo: Geo News Senior police official Mohammad Ashraf Noor was martyred in a suicide attack in the Hayatabad area of Peshawar. Noor, the Additional IG Headquarters, was en route to work when a suicide bomber riding a motorcycle rammed into his vehicle near Tatara Park. Eight policemen were also injured in the attack. Noor hailed from Gilgit-Baltistan and joined the police force in 1989. NOV 22 Major Ishaq Shaheed. Photo: ISPR An army major embraced martyrdom in an exchange of fire during a search operation at a terrorist hideout in Kulachi, Dera Ismail Khan, Director General ISPR Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor tweeted. The 28-year-old martyr, Major Ishaq, belonged to Khushab, Punjab, and left behind a widow and an infant. NOV 21 A security official was martyred in a search operation in Turbat, Balochistan, informed security officials. The operation was being conducted by the FC on information regarding the presence of militants in the area. Three security personnel were also injured during the operation. NOV 15 SP Investigation Mohammad Ilyas and his three family members were martyred when unidentified gunmen opened fire on their vehicle in Quetta. The sister-in-law of the martyred SP at Civil Hospital, Quetta. Photo: Online The wife, son and grandson of the officer were also martyred in the attack which took place in the Nawa Kali area of the provincial capital. The deceased were travelling in their vehicle when they were targetted by gunmen riding motorcycles. NOV 13 A cross-border attack by terrorists from Afghanistan in Pakistan's Bajaur Agency led to the martyrdom of two Pakistan Army officials, the ISPR said. The cross-border attack had also resulted in the killing of 8-10 terrorists. Photo: ISPR Captain Junaid Hafeez and Sepoy Raham were martyred in the attack on a border post. Four other troops were injured in the incident. NOV 9 DIG Hamid Shakeel was among three officials martyred in a suicide attack on Quetta's airport road. Around eight others, including police officials, were said to be injured in the attack. Shakeel is survived by three sons. Photo: File Shakeel, who was heading the motor transport and telecommunications department, was killed when his convoy was targetted in a bomb attack. OCT 20 A police official was martyred during an operation at a drug runner?s hideout in Malir 15 area of Karachi. According to SSP Korangi Noman Siddiqui, police raided the den of a suspected drug runner, Shahzad, and arrested him. However, an exchange of fire took place later between the police party and Shahzad?s accomplices, in which police official Bilal was killed. OCT 18 Eight police officials were martyred when attackers rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a truck carrying Elite Force personnel in New Sariab area of Quetta early morning. Rescue officials clear the truck. Photo: AFP Over 20 others were wounded in the bombing, according to hospital authorities. OCT 15 Four security officials, including a captain, were martyred and three injured in an IED blast in Kharlachi, Kurram Agency. Three officials were killed instantly while three were reported injured, according to the political administration of the agency. The martyred officials were identified as Captain Husnain and sepoys Saeed Baz, Qadar Khan and Juma Gul while the injured as Naik Anwar, Sepoy Zahir and Lance Naik Sher Afzal. The martyred officials. Photo: ISPR OCT 13 One policeman was martyred and two others, along with a boy, were injured in a firing incident on Faqir Mohammad Road of Quetta. According to the SSP operations, the deceased policeman was in critical condition when he was brought to the hospital and later passed away while the boy injured in the incident was a bystander. The deceased was identified as Mohammad Ali. Naib Subedar Azhar Ali Shaheed - ISPR OCT 3 A soldier of the Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom after terrorists fired from across the Afghan border on a border post, the ISPR said. The incident occurred at the recently cleared area around Mustil Pass, an important passage from Afghanistan into Rajgal, in Khyber Agency. The martyred soldier was identified as Naib Subedar Azher Ali. SEP 30 A junior commissioned officer (JCO) and two civilians were martyred in unprovoked firing from Indian forces in Rakh Chikri area of Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The JCO was identified as Naib Subedar Nadeem. Lt Arsalan was 22 years old. Photo: ISPR SEPT 23 Lieutenant Arsalan Alam embraced martyrdom during firing by terrorists from across the border in Rajgal, Khyber Agency. ISPR said that terrorists from across the border fired on the newly established Pakistani border post in Rajgal, martyring Arsalan who was commanding the post. AUG 11 Two officials of the traffic police were martyred in the line of duty in Karachi. Rescue officials said unidentified attackers opened fire on the official vehicle of the Liaqatabad deputy superintendent of police in Azizabad. As a result, DSP Mohammad Hanif, 56, and his driver/gunman Sultan, 54, died on the spot. AUG 9 A major and three soldiers of the Pakistan Army laid down their lives during a military operation in KP, according to the ISPR. According to the army's media wing, Major Ali Salman ? who belonged to a 'secret agency' ? was leading a team in an anti-terrorist operation in Timergara, Dir when they were killed in a suicide bombing. Major Ali belonged to an intelligence agency and was leading the operation. Photo: ISPR The deceased were identified as Maj Ali, Havaldar Ghulam Nazir, Havaldar Akhtar and Sepoy Abdul Karim. JULY 24 Nine policemen were among at least 26 people martyred in a suicide attack in the Ferozepur area of Lahore, according to DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf. A scene of the incident. Photo: File Around 57 people were also injured in the attack, which targetted a police picket. JULY 24 A traffic police official was martyred and another injured in a gun attack in the Abul Hasan Isphani road area of Karachi. The officials, posted at the Gulzar-e-Hijri traffic section, were performing their duty when they were attacked. JULY 21 Three police personnel were martyred when their vehicle was fired upon by unidentified assailants in the Korangi area of Karachi. A 10-year-old child also lost his life in the attack. JULY 20 A soldier, identified as Jabbar, was martyred during Operation Khyber-IV, the ISPR said. The martyred soldier, Jabbar. Photo: ISPR Operation Khyber-IV was launched in July in the Rajgal area of Khyber Agency to clear the area of remaining terrorists and stop their cross-border movement from Afghanistan. JULY 16 Four Pakistan Army officials were martyred when their vehicle was targetted by Indian forces from across the LoC in the Athmaqam area of AJK. After being fired upon, the vehicle plunged into the Neelum River, according to the ISPR, killing all onboard personnel. JULY 13 Four policemen, including Quaidabad SP Mubarak Shah, were martyred when unidentified gunmen targetted the SP's official vehicle near Killi Deeba area of Quetta. Mubarak Shah Shaheed. Photo: File The three policemen guarding the SP died on the spot, while Shah succumbed to wounds later in a hospital. JULY 12 Mazari Ghot Station House Officer Sajjad Rambani was martyred along with a civilian during an exchange of fire with bandits in Rojhan Tehsil of Rajanpur, Punjab. SHO Sajjad died while fighting bandits. According to the police, the shootout also wounded four policemen and six civilians. JULY 10 SSP Sajid Khan Mohmand was martyred in a terrorist attack after his convoy was targeted with an explosive device on Boghra Road of Quetta. Around a dozen police personnel and civilians were also injured in the attack. The SSP always led from the front. Photo: File Deputy Commissioner Qaiser Khan said that a suicide bomber, riding a motorcycle, attacked the SSP's convoy. JUNE 24 Seven policemen were among fourteen people martyred in a suicide car bombing near the office of the Balochistan inspector general of police on Gulistan Road, Quetta. The attack took place near the office the Balochistan IGP. Photo: File The bodies and the 21 people injured in the attack were shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta. JUNE 23 Four police officials, including an assistant sub-inspector (ASI), were martyred in a gun attack by unidentified assailants in Karachi's SITE area. The policemen had stopped at a local eatery for Iftar when three assailants on a motorcycle, their faces covered with helmets, opened fire and fled. A view of the police officials' vehicle. Photo: Geo News The martyred policemen were identified as ASI Mohammad Yousaf, Constables Raja Shabbir, Khalid and Asrar. MAY 20 Two police officers were martyred and one seriously injured in a firing incident near the Dhoraji area of Karachi. Security officials revealed that a police vehicle was shot at, resulting in the instant deaths of ASI Iftikhar and Head Constable Younus, while another official was injured. A view of the officials' vehicle. Photo: Geo News MAY 3 A policeman was martyred when unidentified persons opened fire on him in Lakki Marwat, KP. The deceased policeman, Momin Khan, was travelling to the mosque from Tijori Police Station when unidentified persons opened fired at him near Tijori Bazaar. APR 23 Four FC officials were martyred and three injured when a roadside IED exploded near their vehicle in Balochistan, the ISPR stated. The incident occurred in Gawak area in Turbat when the vehicle was on routine patrolling. APR 5 Four military personnel were among at least six people martyred when a suicide bomber targeted a population census team in Lahore's Bedian Road early morning. The attack had cast a shadow over the ongoing census exercise. Photo: AFP The attack had also left 15 people wounded. MAR 17 On March 17, two FC officials were martyred in an attempted terrorist attack on an FC check-post in Khyber Agency. MAR 17 One FC soldier embraced martyrdom while another was injured when suicide bombers stormed an FC training centre in Shabqadar, Charsadda at around 6am, the ISPR said. The funeral of the martyred official. Photo: Geo News The martyred soldier was identified as Lance Naik Naeemullah. MAR 7 Two soldiers embraced martyrdom during an exchange of fire in Malikabad, Swabi. Captain Junaid and Sepoy Amjad were taking part in an intelligence-based operation when they were killed, according to security officials. Capt Junaid (right) and Sepoy Amjad. Photo: ISPR MAR 6 As many as five soldiers embraced martyrdom while foiling an attack on three border checkpoints in Mohmand Agency, according to the ISPR. The martyred soldiers were identified as Sanaullah, Safdar, Altaf, Nek Muhammad and Anwar. MAR 5 An inspector was martyred while a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) was injured in an encounter between counter-terrorism department (CTD) personnel and terrorists in Sahiwal, Punjab. CTD officials said they had received a tip-off about the presence of terrorists in Harrapa village of Sahiwal. During the raid, the terrorists opened fire at the officials, killing inspector Fida Hussain and leaving the DSP injured. MAR 2 Lt Khawar Shaheed had won a gold medal in boxing during his time in PMA. Photo: ISPR Two Pakistan Army personnel, including an officer, were martyred in an exchange of fire with terrorists in Frontier Region Bannu. Security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Mullagano area of Jani Khel when terrorists hiding in the vicinity opened fire. Lieutenant Khawar Shahab and Naik Shehzad embraced martyrdom during the gunfight. FEB 16 Three Pakistan Army officials, including a captain, embraced martyrdom in an IED blast near an army convoy in Balochistan?s Awaran district. FEB 13 Two personnel of the bomb disposal squad were martyred and 11 others injured in a blast near the Saryab Bridge in Quetta. FEB 13 geo_embedgallery Chief Traffic Officer Syed Ahmed Mobin and Senior Superintendent of Police Zahid Gondal were among at least 14 people martyred in a suicide bombing on Lahore's Mall Road. A suicide bomber exploded himself near the Punjab Assembly when hundreds of people had gathered for a demonstration. The powerful explosion also left over 70 people injured. Title image: Military personnel carry the coffin of a soldier during a funeral ceremony in Peshawar. Photo: AFP