Jahangir's World Times First Comprehensive Magazine for students/teachers of competitive exams and general readers as well.
Current Pakistan National Affairs
12-04-2012 Dawn
No arms conduit, green signal for non-lethal Nato supplies: The parliament recommended to the government to no more let Pakistan serve as conduit of arms to Afghanistan, but gave a green signal for a resumption of non-lethal Nato supplies to the war-ravaged country.
And before the joint sitting of the National Assembly and Senate unanimously adopted revised recommendations of a bipartisan Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani assured the house that his government would implement its landmark guidelines’in letter and spirit’.
The 14 points of the report include following recommendations:
The US footprint in Pakistan must be reviewed. This would mean an immediate cessation of drone attacks inside Pakistan and cessation of infiltration into Pakistan territory on any pretext, including hot pursuit.
No verbal agreement regarding national security shall be entered into by the government or any department or organisation with any foreign government or authority.
Active pursuit of gas pipeline projects with Iran and Turkmenistan.
Pakistan’s nuclear programme and assets, including its safety and security, cannot be compromised.
The US-Indo civil nuclear agreement has significantly altered the strategic balance in the region. Pakistan should seek from the US and others a similar treatment/facility.
‘The strategic position of Pakistan vis-Ã -vis India on the subject of FMCT must not be compromised and this principle be kept in view in negotiations on this matter.
The Government of Pakistan should seek an unconditional apology from the US for the unprovoked incident of November 26, 2011, in Mohmand Agency. Those held responsible for the attack should be brought to justice.
The Ministry of Defence/PAF should formulate new flying rules for areas contiguous to the border.
For negotiating or renegotiating agreements/MOUs pertaining to or dealing with matters of national security that all agreements, including military cooperation and logistics, will be circulated to all concerned ministries and the Parliamentary Committee on National Security.
The international community should recognise Pakistan’s colossal human and economic losses and continued suffering due to the war on terror.
There is no military solution to the Afghan conflict and efforts must be undertaken to promote a genuine national reconciliation and to strengthen security along the Pakistan border.
Pakistani territory shall not be used for any kind of attacks on other countries and all foreign fighters, if found, shall be expelled from our soil.
The dialogue process with India should be continued in a result-oriented manner, including the efforts for the solution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Resolution. Strategic partnership with China must be deepened in all its dimensions; relationship with the Russian Federation should be further strengthened; Pakistan’s support for the promotion of peace and stability in Afghanistan remains the cornerstone of its foreign policy; country’s special relationship with the Islamic world should be reinforced, its full membership of SCO be actively pursued; Pakistan’s bilateral relationships in the region and its institutional partnership with ASEAN and GCC must be upgraded and Pakistan should actively pursue the gas pipeline projects with Iran and Turkmenistan.
12-04-2012 The News
Moazzam new FO spokesman: Moazzam Ahmed Khan has taken over as new Spokesperson for the Foreign Office. Moazzam Ahmed Khan, who is also Director General (Europe) will continue to take care of both the sides.
12-04-2012 The News
Govt. allows private sector to set up gas distribution firms: The federal government, in a major policy shift, has allowed the private sector to establish gas distribution companies a move that would end decades-old monopoly of the state-run Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd. (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).
12-04-2012 The News
Govt., WB sign $1.125b deals for five projects: The World Bank and the Government of Pakistan signed agreements of five projects worth $ 1.125 billion, out of which $35 million will be provided as a grant.
12-04-2012 Daily Times
Pakistani student brings home int’l award: A Pakistani student has won silver medal by bagging second position in an international environment competition held in Baku, Azerbaijan. Muhammad bin Qasim, a Class 8 student at the Pak-Turk International School and Colleges, Peshawar got the medal at the 6th International Environmental Project Olympiad which took place on April 4-8.
12-04-2012 Tribune
Irfan Qadir appointed new attorney general: The government appointed Mr Irfan Qadir, well known for his belligerent attitude towards the incumbent judiciary, as the attorney general of Pakistan.
13-04-2012 The News
Pak-India trade gate opens: Pakistan and India formally opened the Land Freight Unit, a dedicated trade gate for the promotion of bilateral trade through Wagha-Atari border.
13-04-2012 The News
Largest-ever cargo carrier berths at FAP Terminal: A bulk cargo-laden carrier, MV Rapallo, carrying 60,000 metric tons of Australian Canola docked at Fauji Akbar Portia (FAP) Terminal.
14-04-2012 Dawn
Bashir new high commissioner to India: The government formally announced the appointment of Salman Bashir as new high commissioner to India. He has replaced Shahid Malik.
According the Foreign Office, Mr Bashir has served as foreign secretary from 2008 to March 2012 and was also Pakistan’s ambassador to Denmark, Lithuania, China and Mongolia. He also served at the Pakistan’s mission to the United Nations in Geneva as well as at the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Jeddah.
15-04-2012 Dawn
Dangerous militants among 384 escaped after Bannu jail attack: In the biggest jail-break in the country’s history, over 100 militants stormed the central prison in Bannu and freed 384 prisoners, among them was a man sentenced to death for trying to assassinate former president Pervez Musharraf.
16-04-2012 Dawn
Four new ministers of state sworn in: Four more PPP leaders from Punjab were sworn in as ministers, clearly indicating that the party is preparing to fortify its ranks in the province for upcoming election battle.
16-04-2012 Dawn
Agreement signed for $110m assistance: The United States will provide an additional assistance of $110 million to Pakistan for ongoing judicial reforms, border security, law enforcement and counter-narcotics projects.
17-04-2012 Dawn
DCC go-ahead for resetting Pak-US ties: The Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) gave a go-ahead for starting negotiations with the US for resetting ties in the light of parliamentary review.
The negotiations are expected to primarily revolve round resumption of Nato supplies, counter-terrorism cooperation, greater transparency in US operations in Pakistan, demand for civilian nuclear deal and expulsion of foreign operatives from the country.
17-04-2012 The News
Pakistan snatches win in Global Elevator Pitch Contest: Ali Raza Randhawa, a final year student of BS Electrical Engineering at the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore snatched a win for Pakistan during the Elevator Pitch Contest held in Abu Dhabi.
18-04-2012 Dawn
CJ, Sharmeen on Time list of influential people: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and Pakistan’s first Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy have been named by the Time magazine among the 100 most influential people in the world. In its appreciation, the magazine said that Chief Justice Chaudhry and Sharmeen Obaid had made it to a list of people who ‘inspire us, entertain us, challenge us and change our world.
19-04-2012 The News
Pepco dissolved, 670 employees transferred: The government formally dissolved the Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) after the vacation of stay order of the court, and the company’s 650-670 employees have been absorbed by the NTDC (National Transmission Dispatch Company) as well as Power Distribution Companies (Discos).
20-04-2012 Dawn
All 127 on board Islamabad-bound plane perish: A passenger plane of Bhoja Air, Boeing 737-200, with 127 people on board crashed while trying to land in bad weather near Islamabad. The plane crashed on houses, causing fire on them. The plane was carrying 118 passengers and a crew of 9.
The airline had recently restarted its operations in the country and this was its first flight from Karachi to Islamabad.
23-04-2012 Dawn
Stealth missile naval craft inducted: The Pakistan Navy announced commissioning of its first stealth fast attack missile craft PNS Azmat and said it would augment its combat potential and redress the regional balance of power.
24-04-2012 Dawn
Zardari signs intellectual property ordinance: President Asif Ali Zardari signed the Intellectual Property (IP) Rights Ordinance, 2012 on the advice of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
25-04-2012 Dawn
Afzal Chan of PPP to head PAC: A PPP loyalist, Nadeem Afzal Chan, became chairman of the powerful Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly; a position that had been vacated in protest by Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) five months back.
25-04-2012 Dawn
Ballistic missile Hatf IV test-fired: Pakistan test-fired a new version of its nuclear-capable intermediate range ballistic missile. The Shaheen 1-A (Hatf IV) would boost its deterrence abilities.
25-04-2012 The News
Iran offers $500m for IP gas project: Iran, facing tough sanctions imposed by the US and Europe on account of its nuclear programme, has said it is ready to extend $500 million to Pakistan for laying the pipeline from Pak-Iran border to Nawabshah under IP gas pipeline project.
It also expressed readiness to export 70,000 to 80,000 barrels per day crude oil to Pakistan during the recent meeting between the officials of the two countries held in Tehran.
26-04-2012 Dawn
Down but not out: In a ruling that added more chaos than clarity to an already messy and murky scenario, the Supreme Court handed down a symbolic punishment lasting less than a minute to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, making him the first-ever chief executive to be convicted for committing contempt.
The ruling convicted him for contempt and sentenced him until the rising of the court. The time of the sentence lasted only 37 seconds.
26-04-2012 The News
PM to set up BB Hall of Fame, IP Museum: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani announced the establishment of enazir Hall of Fame’, IP Museum for the legends of Pakistan and directed the CDA to provide at least four acres of land in most suitable place in the Federal Capital for its construction.
26-04-2012 Daily Times
Moneeza Hashmi elected CBA president: The Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA) members unanimously elected Hum Network International Relations General Manager Moneeza Hashmi as the CBA president for the second time in a row.
The decision was taken in a conference in Brisbane, Australia. Moneeza, daughter of renowned poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, is the first Pakistani and the only female president of the CBA in its 60-year history.
26-04-2012 Dawn
EU approves 20m euro aid: Observing that the situation in Pakistan requires additional aid funding, the European Union has allocated 20 million euros for its humanitarian plan for the country for 2012.
The EU’s humanitarian aid department said the recent security operations in Khyber Agency had displaced a large number of people, hence the need for additional funds.
27-04-2012 Dawn
WB approves $550m education, gas projects: The World Bank approved two projects worth $550 million aimed at supporting Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen the crucial sectors of education and natural gas.
27-04-2012 Dawn
Maj-Gen Bajwa to head ISPR: The military announced that Maj-Gen Asim Bajwa would replace Maj-Gen Ather Abbas as the new chief of its public affairs wing the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Maj-Gen Bajwa, who is currently serving as General Officer Commanding of 40th Infantry Division, Dera Ismail Khan, will take over the new assignment in June on the retirement of Maj-Gen Abbas.
27-04-2012 The News
Pakistan elected to 5 key UN panels: Pakistan has been elected to five important UN panels in recognition of the country’s contribution to the work of the world body, especially on social and development issues.
The panels are: the Commission for Social Development for the term 2013-2017, the Commission on the Status of Women (2013-2017), the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (2013-2015), the Executive Board of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) (2013-2015), and the Executive Board of United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Population Fund (UNDP/UNFPA) (2013-2015).
28-04-2012 Dawn
Pakistani firm wins dumping case in Canada: Pakistan has won an antidumping duty case filed at the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) against a Pakistani firm for dumping potassium silicate in Canada. It was alleged that the Pakistani firm was dumping the said chemical originating from Pakistan into Canada. The case was pursued by the NTC, Pakistan’s trade defence law executing agency ‘also mandated to protect the local industry from dumping of goods and products in Pakistan.
28-04-2012 Dawn
Chief justice honoured: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has been bestowed the prestigious and renowned “International Jurists Award 2012’ for his unique and tremendous contribution in the field of administration of justice by the International Council of Jurists.
29-04-2012 The News
CM inaugurates country’s longest Muslim Town flyover: Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has inaugurated 3-lane Muslim Town Flyover which is the longest flyover constructed throughout the country so far. As many as 427,000 vehicles will pass over a 2.6km long Muslim Town Flyover daily.
30-04-2012 Dawn
Play by rules, Kayani tells all: Setting the ground rules for ending the politico-judicial impasse that has gripped the country since Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s conviction by the Supreme Court in the contempt case last week, Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani urged all organs of the state to adhere to their roles defined by the Constitution and stressed equal justice for all.
02-05-2012 Dawn
Pakistan fourth in premature births, says report: Registering about 750,000 preterm births in 2010, Pakistan has ranked fourth in the latest global listing in terms of the number of preterm births, with India on the top, followed by China and Nigeria as third and fourth, respectively.
However, the percentage wise ranking put Pakistan on the eighth position in the world with the annual average of 15.8 per cent preterm births. The world rate of preterm births is over 10 per cent.
02-05-2012 Dawn
Unesco ranks Pakistan second most dangerous for journalists: A new report released by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) alarmingly ranks Pakistan as ‘the second most dangerous country for journalists the world over.
The report titled ‘Safety and the Danger of Impunity’ says that a dramatic increase in the number of media staffers killed in Pakistan has been witnessed. Mexico, it claims, is the worst affected country in the period as far as risk for the journalists` fraternity is concerned.
02-05-2012 Dawn
Pakistan played vital role in elimination of Osama: Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar said the government and armed forces of Pakistan played a vital role in the elimination of former Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden through a mobile phone’s chip/SIM.
Speaking during an exclusive interview to BBC’s Urdu Service, the minister claimed that it was Pakistan’s armed forces which had weakened the Al Qaeda’s terrorist network.
03-05-2012 Dawn
Trust reposed in Gilani; NA seeks new province: In a rebuff to noisy protests from the main opposition party, the remainder majorities of both houses of parliament placed their ‘complete confidence’ in Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. The National Assembly also demanded a new province of South Punjab.
03-05-2012 Dawn
PML-N seeks four new provinces: Hours after the adoption of a government-backed resolution in the National Assembly for creation of a ‘South Punjab’ province, the Pakistan Muslim League-N submitted its own resolution to the NA secretariat seeking establishment of four new provinces in the country.
03-05-2012 The News
China emerges as Pakistan’s largest development partner, creditor: China has emerged as the largest development partner and creditor of Pakistan in the last three years as its loan portfolio has increased to $3.3 billion.
In the current year, Pakistan got the commitment of $652 million from China, of which it has received $400 million for various projects of paramount importance.
04-05-2012 The News
Pakistan’s Taxila among top10 endangered sites: Asia’s architectural treasures, from a Buddhist monastery in Afghanistan to an ancient city in China, are in danger of vanishing under a tide of economic expansion, war and tourism, experts said.
The top 10 endangered sites in Asia, according to the Global Heritage Fund, are:
1. Ayutthaya in Thailand, a former Siamese capital known as the Venice of the East. 2. Fort Santiago and Intramurros in the Philippines. 3. Kashgar, one of the last preserved Silk Road cities in China. 4. Mahasthangarh, one of South Asia’s earliest archeological sites in Bangladesh. 5. Mes Aynak, an Afghan Buddhist monastery complex on the Silk Road. 6. Myauk-U, capital of the first Arakenese kingdom in Myanmar. 7. Plain of Jars, a mysterious megalithic site in Laos. 8. Preah Vihear, a Khmer architectural masterpiece in Cambodia. 9. Rakhigari, one of the biggest, ancient Indus sites in India. 10. Taxila, an ancient economic crossroads in Pakistan.
09-05-2012 Dawn
Assembly backs South Punjab, Bahawalpur provinces: In a rare show of unanimity, the treasury and the opposition in the Punjab Assembly jointly adopted two resolutions calling for restoring the Bahawalpur province and carving out a new Janoobi (south) Punjab province comprising the Seraiki belt, but excluding the three districts of the former princely state.
09-05-2012 Dawn
Nawaz and Mumtaz Bhutto join hands: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif welcomed the merger of Sindh National Front into his Pakistan Muslim League-N. During the SNF workers’ convention in Ratodero, the SNF chief Mumtaz Ali Bhutto announced that its central committee had decided to merge the organisation into the PML-N.
10-05-2012 Dawn
UK, Pakistan agree to boost trade: Pakistan and the United Kingdom agreed to take effective steps to increase bilateral trade to about $4.1 billion by 2015 and to ensure that Pakistanis illegally residing in the UK return home under existing agreements.
10-05-2012 Dawn
Hatf III missile test-fired: Pakistan carried out a successful test-firing of a short-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile. The launch of the Hatf III, which has a range of up to 290 kilometres and can also carry conventional warheads, came at the end of a field training exercise, a military statement said.
Current Pakistan International Affairs
11-04-2012 Dawn
Ruling party wins polls in S. Korea: South Korea’s ruling party Saenuri Party claimed a majority in a parliamentary vote that centred on domestic issues but had implications for Seoul’s relationship with the North.
11-04-2012 Dawn
French cabinet approves ant-terrorism measures: France’s conservative government unveiled new counter-terrorism measures to punish those who visit extremist websites or travel to weapons-training camps abroad, in the wake of killings by a suspected Islamist in southern France last month.
12-04-2012 Dawn
Malaysia enthrones new king: Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah took the oath as Malaysia’s king during his coronation ceremony held at National Palace. Prime Minister Najib Razak proclaimed Sultan Abdul Halim the 14th king before an audience of other Malaysian sultans, government ministers and foreign dignitaries.
13-04-2012 Dawn
North Korean test fails, rocket falls into sea: North Korea’s heralded long-range rocket test ended in failure, disintegrating in mid-air soon after blastoff and plunging into the sea in a major embarrassment for the Communist state.
13-04-2012 The News
World’s biggest solar facility opens in S. Arabia: The world’s largest solar energy facility, built with Austrian technology, has opened in Saudi Arabia and will provide Riyad’s Princess Noura Bint Abdulrahman University with warm water. The facility consists of 36,000 square metres (387,500 square feet) of solar panels and cost 3.6 million euros ($4.7 million).
13-04-2012 Dawn
Portugal ratifies EU budget pact: Portugal, which received an international bailout last year, became the second EU country to ratify a European Union pact tightening budget discipline after Greece.
13-04-2012 Dawn
Troops arrest Guinea-Bissau PM: Soldiers have arrested the prime minister of Guinea-Bissau Carlos Gomes Jr., a military spokesman said, the latest instability to roil a coup-prone West African country where no leader in nearly 40 years has finished his time in office.
14-04-2012 Dawn
Rabbani’s son to head Afghan peace council: Afghanistan’s government appointed Salahuddin Rabbani, the son of slain statesman Burhanuddin Rabbani, to replace his father and lead the country’s High Peace Council charged with reaching out to the Taliban.
Salahuddin Rabbani is currently Afghanistan’s ambassador to Turkey, and his appointment as Kabul’s chief peace negotiator with the Taliban ends a seven-month gap at the top of the 70-member council.
14-04-2012 Dawn
UN approves observer force for Syria: The UN Security Council unanimously decided to send an advance team of up to 30 unarmed military observers to Syria to monitor a ceasefire between the government forces and armed opposition rebels.
15-04-2012 Dawn
Tiny gene change affects brain size, IQ: report: An international team of scientists said the largest brain study of its kind had found a gene linked to intelligence, a small piece in the puzzle as to why some people are smarter than others.
A variant of this gene ‘can tilt the scales in favour of higher intelligence’ study leader Paul Thompson said, stressing though that genetic blessings were not the only factor in brainpower.
Searching for a genetic explanation for brain disease, the scientists stumbled upon a minute variant in a gene called HMGA2 among people who had larger brains and scored higher on standardised IQ tests.
16-04-2012 Dawn
Iran starts $1b water project: Iran officially launched a $1-billion first phase of an ambitious project to pump water from the Caspian Sea to a city in its vast and expanding central desert.
16-04-2012 Dawn
Labour Party suspends Lord Nazir: Britain’s Labour Party suspended peer Nazir Ahmed over reports that he offered a $15.9 million bounty for the capture of US President Barack Obama.
The Lord also offered a similar incentive for the capture of former US president George Bush in response to a US reward for the capture of suspected terrorist Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.
16-04-2012 The News
Half of England in drought: Half of England was officially in drought after the Environment Agency declared another 17 counties short of water, and warned the situation may continue until the end of the year. Two dry winters have left rivers and ground waters depleted, prompting the government agency to urge businesses, water companies and consumers to be more careful in their use of water.
16-04-2012 Dawn
World Bank picks Kim as president: The World Bank chose Korean-American physician JimYong Kim as its next chief in a decision that surprised few despite the first-ever challenge to the US lock on the bank’s presidency.
Kim, 52 will assume his new post on July 1 after Robert Zoellick steps down as head of the World Bank.
16-04-2012 Dawn
Sudan’s MPs brand South as ‘enemy’: Sudan’s parliament voted unanimously to brand the government of South Sudan an enemy, after southern troops invaded the north’s main oilfield.
17-04-2012 Dawn
Record decline in Japan’s population: Japan’s population fell by a record last year, underlining the struggle to boost growth and rein in soaring welfare costs in the world’s most rapidly aging society.
The population declined by 0.2 per cent to 127.8 million as of October 1, the ministry of internal affairs reported. Fukushima prefecture, which was devastated by last year’s record earthquake and nuclear disaster, registered the biggest decline, 1.93 per cent.
17-04-2012 Dawn
Jolie made UNHCR’s special envoy: Hollywood star Angelina Jolie has been elevated as a special envoy of the world body, an announcement by the UN refugee agency said.
17-04-2012 Dawn
Assange interviews Hezbollah chief in Russian TV debut: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange made his debut as a chat show host on a Kremlin-funded channel with a deliberately shocking choice of first guest the leader of Hezbollah.
17-04-2012 The News
Ex-guerrilla elected E Timor president: Former guerrilla Taur Matan Ruak has won East Timor’s presidential run-off by a wide margin in a pivotal year for the nation almost a decade after independence.
Ruak, who had campaigned in military fatigues to highlight his role in the fight against Indonesian occupation, won 61.23 per cent of the vote, according to figures from the elections secretariat.
17-04-2012 The News
Azerbaijani wins World Press Freedom Prize: Azerbaijani journalist Eynulla Fatullayev, a press freedom advocate who was jailed by authorities, has won the prestigious UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize.
Throughout his career, he has unfailingly and steadfastly spoken out for freedom of the press and freedom of expression’ UNESCO said in a statement announcing the award.
17-04-2012 Dawn
Shuttle Discovery in dramatic flyover: The space shuttle Discovery made a dramatic flyover of Washington on the way to its final resting place, a museum outside the US capital.
The shuttle, first flew in 1984 of the storied white and black shuttle, which appeared scuffed and grubby from its 39 journeys into space.
17-04-2012 Tribune
Times wins 2 Pulitzers; online media also honoured: The New York Times has won two Pulitzer Prizes, for its reporting on Africa and for an investigative series on loopholes that allow the wealthiest Americans and corporations to avoid paying taxes. In a sign of the changing media landscape, two primarily online news outlets, The Huffington Post and Politico, won their first Pulitzer Prizes.
17-04-2012 Dawn
Mali names interim PM after arrests: Mali named a leading scientist Cheick Modibo Diarra as its caretaker prime minister but its path back to civilian rule after last month’s coup was thrown into doubt as soldiers arrested key allies of the ousted president, Amadou Toumani Toure.
18-04-2012 Tribune
Palestinian prime minister pulls out of high-level talks: The Palestinian Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad, has pulled out of a planned meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, torpedoing what was set to be the highest-level talks between the sides in nearly two years.
19-04-2012 Dawn
India tests missile capable of hitting targets across China: India successfully test-fired a new missile capable of delivering a one-tonne nuclear warhead anywhere in China, marking a major step forward in its military capabilities.
Currently only the five permanent members of the UN Security Council Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States possess a declared ICBM capability.
19-04-2012 Tribune
S. Korea confirms missile that can hit anywhere in North: South Korea confirmed that it had developed and deployed a new cruise missile capable of making a precision strike at a target anywhere in North Korea.
Although it has been widely reported that South Korea has developed its Hyunmoo series of cruise missiles with ranges of 500 to 1,500 kilometres, or about 300 to 900 miles, this was the first time that the government had publicly confirmed the deployment of such a missile and released video footage of it hitting a target during a test firing.
19-04-2012 The News
EU-US anti-terror data-sharing agreement finally approved: A controversial deal enabling long-term transfer of EU air passenger data to US authorities as part of the global fight against terror was finally approved in the European Parliament.
20-04-2012 Dawn
Ruling against YouTube: A German court ruled that Google’s video sharing service ‘YouTube’ is responsible when users post copyrighted music clips without permission.
In a test case that could have huge implications for ‘YouTube’ if it has to pay royalties for all clips posted on its website.
20-04-2012 The News
Russia launches cargo ship: The Russian cargo ship Progress M-15M was launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and successfully put into orbit. Progress aims to deliver fuel, food and water to the International Space Station.
22-04-2012 Dawn
Iranian military claims of copying US drone: Iran’s military has started to build a copy of a US surveillance drone captured last year after breaking the software encryption.
22-04-2012 The News
China, Russia hold first navy exercises: China and Russia launched their first joint naval exercises amid tensions between China and its Asian neighbours over regional territorial claims.
The six days of drills took place in the Yellow Sea off China’s east coast. These were the first dedicated exercises involving the two navies.
22-04-2012 Dawn
Europe’s first private high-speed train launched: Italy launched Europe’s first private high-speed train service, as the country looks towards the more liberal economy that Prime Minister Mario Monti wants to put on the rails. The dark-red bullet-shaped ‘Italo’ trains are run by NTV, a company headed by Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo.
22-04-2012 Dawn
S. Sudan completes withdrawal from flashpoint oil field: South Sudan’s army said it had completed its pullout from an oil field seized from the rival Sudanese regime, ending a bitter standoff which forced thousands of civilians to flee.
23-04-2012 Dawn
EU suspends most Myanmar sanctions: The European Union agreed to suspend most of its sanctions against Myanmar for a year despite a dispute over a parliamentary oath between the army-backed ruling party and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
23-04-2012 Dawn
Muslims in Europe face discrimination: European countries are discriminating against Muslims for demonstrating their faith, especially in the fields of education and employment, rights group Amnesty International has said.
In a report focusing on Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland, Amnesty urged European governments to do more to challenge negative stereotypes and prejudices against Islam. The report was particularly critical of countries that have brought in outright bans on face-covering veils or on the wearing of religious symbols in schools.
23-04-2012 Dawn
Dutch govt quits after rift with far right: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s liberal government quit after the collapse of a parliamentary partnership with a far-right party, paving the way for early elections.
25-04-2012 Dawn
Britain slips back into recession: Britain was back in recession after the economy shrank again in the first quarter but the government insisted on sticking by its deep spending cuts despite concerns they undermine growth.
Britain’s gross domestic product (GDP) contracted 0.2 per cent between January and March, following a fall of 0.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2011.
25-04-2012 Dawn
Religious parties banned in Libya: Libya, preparing for elections in June, has banned parties based on religion, tribe or ethnicity, the government said, and a new Islamist party viewed as a leading contender signalled it would challenge the decision.
Libya’s NTC has already indicated that the country will be run in accordance with sharia, though the exact place of Islamic law in the legal system will be settled only once a new constitution is written after elections.
26-04-2012 The News
Jordan PM resigns in surprise move: Jordan’s Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh resigned, barely six months after forming a reform-mandated government to bring in political and economic change in the country.
26-04-2012 Dawn
Man’s remotest relative’ found in lake sludge: After two decades of examining a microscopic algae-eater that lives in a lake in Norway, scientists declared it to be one of the world’s oldest living organisms and man’s remotest relative.
The elusive, single-cell creature evolved about a billion years ago and did not fit in any of the known categories of living organisms ‘it was not an animal, plant, parasite, fungus or alga.
26-04-2012 Dawn
Liberia’s Taylor guilty of Sierra Leone war crimes: Liberian former leader Charles Taylor was convicted of arming rebels who killed and mutilated thousands in Sierra Leone, in a historic verdict for international justice.
27-04-2012 Dawn
Scientists detect subatomic particle: European scientists said they had detected a subatomic particle that sheds light on one of the basic forces of nature which determines the structure of matter.
The particle, a baryon called Xi_b, cannot be detected directly as it is too unstable, but scientists observed traces of it in a test at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC).
27-04-2012 The News
Romanian govt collapses, putting reforms at risk: Romania’s centre-right government collapsed after a no-confidence vote, jeopardising key reforms six months ahead of general elections.
27-04-2012 The News
Obama signs waiver to lift Palestinian aid barrier: President Barack Obama has signed a waiver declaring that aid to the Palestinian Authority, is ‘important to the security interests of the United States,’ removing a block on such funding.
28-04-2012 Dawn
EIBaradei unveils political party: Leading Egyptian dissident Mohamed Mustafa ElBaradei unveiled a new party, the Constitution Party, aimed at rescuing last year’s uprising from a ‘tragic’ transitional period under the ruling military.
30-04-2012 Daily Times
First woman convicted of war crimes in Bosnia: A Bosnian Muslim woman and former soldier, Rasema Handanovic, became the first woman to be convicted of war crimes by a local court after admitting killing Croat civilians and prisoners during the 1990s war. She was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail.
01-05-2012 Dawn
Obama signs strategic pact with Karzai in Kabul: US President Barack Obama arrived in Afghanistan to conclude an agreement charting future relations with the country, making the unannounced trip in darkness on the first anniversary of the killing of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
Shortly after he arrived, Mr Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai signed the strategic partnership pact, which sets out a future US role in Afghanistan, including aid and advisers, while trying to reassure Afghans that they will not be abandoned when most Nato combat troops leave in 2014.
01-05-2012 Tribune
South Sudan accedes to plan for peace, African Union says: South Sudan has accepted African Union proposals aimed at stabilising relations with neighbouring Sudan, including withdrawing its police personnel from the disputed region of Abyei, the organisation said.
02-05-2012 Dawn
Suu Kyi takes oath as parliamentarian: Aung San Suu Kyi was sworn-in as a lawmaker, capping a tenacious, decades-long journey from political prisoner to parliamentarian that will enable Myanmar’s main opposition party to take its struggle for democratic rule inside the country’s army-backed government for the first time.
02-05-2012 The News
China demands US apologise over activist case: China has demanded that the United States apologise for sheltering activist Chen Guangcheng in the US embassy in Beijing, the official Xinhua news agency said. Chen, who riled Chinese authorities by exposing forced abortions and sterilisations under the ‘one-child’ policy, left the embassy and was taken to join his family.
03-05-2012 Dawn
Bahrain’s constitution amended; opposition unimpressed: King Hamad ratified amendments to Bahrain’s constitution aimed at defusing unrest in the strategic Gulf state, but the opposition dismissed the extra powers given to parliament as not enough.
‘The process of reform that marked the beginning of my tenure in power will not stop,’said the Sunni monarch who succeeded to the throne in 1999.
03-05-2012 The News
Kuwait MPs pass death penalty bill for cursing God: Kuwait’s parliament passed a bill stipulating the death penalty for Muslims who curse God, the Muslim holy book, all prophets and the wives of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).
Forty MPs, including cabinet ministers, voted for the bill in the second and final round of voting, against six opponents who included all five Shiite MPs present and liberal MP Mohammad al-Sager.
Non-Muslims who commit the same offence face a jail term of not less than 10 years, according to the bill.
Defendants who repent in court will be spared capital punishment but will get a jail sentence for five years and a fine of $36,000 or one of them, while repentance by those who repeat the crime is not acceptable, the bill says.
03-05-2012 Dawn
Russia says it has right to strike at Nato missile shield: Russia’s military chief of staff said that Moscow could carry out pre-emptive strikes on future Nato missile defence installations in Europe to protect its security ‘a stark warning against a system the Kremlin sees as a threat.
General Nikolai Makarov’s remark underlined Russian opposition to an anti-missile shield the United States and Nato are developing.
03-05-2012 Dawn
Libya grants immunity to revolutionaries: Libyan authorities granted immunity to former rebels who fought to oust Muammar Qaddafi’s regime and has criminalised any glorification of the former leader, in laws passed.
‘There is no punishment for acts made necessary by the February 17 revolution,’ read the law published on the National Transitional Council’s website.
05-05-2012 Dawn
Japan switches off last nuclear reactor: Thousands of Japanese marched to celebrate the switching off of the last of their nation’s 50 nuclear reactors, waving banners shaped as giant fish that have become a potent anti-nuclear symbol.
Japan was without electricity from nuclear power for the first time in four decades when the reactor at Tomari nuclear plant on the northern island of Hokkaido went offline.
06-05-2012 Dawn
Sarkozy out as France swings to left: Franois Hollande was elected France’s first Socialist president in nearly two decades, dealing a humiliating defeat to incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy and shaking up European politics.
06-05-2012 Daily Times
Hardline Myanmar vice president resigns, says report: A former top general close to Myanmar’s retired dictator Than Shwe has resigned as vice-president, Burmese media reported, ending the hardliner’s role in the reformist government.
Tin Aung Myint Oo, 61, submitted his resignation on May 3 for health reasons after returning from Singapore for medical treatment.
07-05-2012 Dawn
Syria holds first election in 50 years; opposition calls it sham: Syrians voted in the country’s first ‘multiparty’ parliamentary election in five decades, held against a backdrop of violence and dismissed as a sham by the opposition.
07-05-2012 Dawn
Putin sworn-in as president: Vladimir Putin took the oath of office in a brief but regal Kremlin ceremony. Putin, 59, has ruled Russia since 2000, first as president and then during the past four years as prime minister. The new, now six-year term will keep him in power until 2018, with the option of running for a fourth term.
07-05-2012 The News
Norway boasts world’s largest carbon dioxide capture lab: Norway inaugurated what it called the world’s largest laboratory for capturing carbon dioxide, a leading strategy for fighting global warming. Located at an oil refinery on Norway’s west coast, the Technology Centre Mongstad aims to test French and Norwegian methods of capturing carbon dioxide emissions and burying them underground to prevent them from escaping into the atmosphere.
08-05-2012 The News
Israel PM unveils coalition deal with Kadima: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu struck a surprise deal with the opposition Kadima party to form a new, broad coalition government, axing plans for a snap election.
The agreement to form what will be Israel’s seventh national unity government was to be put to a vote in the Knesset later.
09-05-2012 The News
Teen discovers tree pulp has anti-aging benefits: A Singapore-born teenager Janelle Tam who recently moved to Canada won a national science award for her groundbreaking work on the anti-aging properties of tree pulp.
10-05-2012 Dawn
Palestinian airlines resumes flights: The Palestinian national carrier, grounded since 2005, has resumed operations with flights between Egypt’s El-Arish and Amman, its director general said.
SPORTS
13-04-2012 Daily Times
Sheikh Ahmad elected head of global Olympic body: Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah of Kuwait, head of the Olympic Council of Asia, was elected as head of the global body of national Olympic committees, taking over after long-time chief Mario Vazquez Rana resigned amid political infighting.
13-04-2012 Daily Times
Capriati elected to Hall of Fame: Former World No. 1 Jennifer Capriati, a three-time Grand Slam champion who also won Olympic gold in 1992 at Barcelona, has been elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
14-04-2012 Dawn
Pakistan win trophy: Pakistan won the J.R. Jayawardene Trophy ‘a one-day event ‘during the penultimate day of the 51st National Amateur Golf Championship at the Royal Palm Golf Course. The contest for the trophy was between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
15-04-2012 The News
Paris marathon title goes to Biwott: Kenyan runner Stanley Biwott won the men’s Paris marathon in a record time of 2hrs 05min 12sec to add to his victory in March’s half-marathon. The 26-year-old bettered the previous best time for the Paris marathon of 2hrs 05:47 set by compatriot Vincent Kipruto in the 2009 edition.
16-04-2012 Dawn
ICC board expands 2014 World Twenty20 to 16 teams: The 2014 World Twenty20 tournament in Bangladesh will be expanded from 12 to 16 teams, giving a boost to associate members who want more involvement in the shortest format of the game, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said.
19-04-2012 The News
BD court puts damper on Pak cricket hopes: The Bangladesh High Court ordered the national team’s upcoming tour of Pakistan to be postponed for at least four weeks due to fears about militants targeting foreign cricket sides.
22-04-2012 Dawn
Mares wins WBC title: Unbeaten Abner Mares won a 12-round unanimous decision over Eric Morel in a battle of former champions for the vacant World Boxing Council super bantamweight world title.
22-04-2012 Dawn
Nadal outguns Djokovic for title: Rafael Nadal won an unprecedented eighth straight title at the Monte Carlo Masters, defeating Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-1.
22-04-2012 Dawn
Aamir, Zoya crowned squash champions: Aamir Atlas Khan proved his critics wrong as he won the final of the 10th Pakistan International Chief of Army Staff Squash Circuit-II at the Mushaf Squash Complex.
Meanwhile, in the girls’ event, Zoya Khalid defeated Saima Shaukat 3-2 (11-5, 8-11, 8-11, 12-10, 15-13) to win the trophy.
22-04-2012 Dawn
Richards Ross posts fastest 400m time: Sanya Richards-Ross posted the fastest women’s 400m time in the world this year as she won the title at the Michael Johnson Classic in Waco, Texas, in 50.18 seconds.
27-04-2012 Dawn
Chanderpaul joins exalted club of batsmen: Shivnarine Chanderpaul, only the 10th player in history to make 10,000 Test runs, believes hard graft and long hours in the nets propelled him to his landmark.
Top 10 Test run-scorers
Sachin Tendulkar (Ind) 15,470
Ricky Ponting (Aus) 13,289
Rahul David (Ind) 13,288
Jacques Kallis (SA) 12,379
Brain Lara (WI) 11,953
Allan Border (Aus) 11,174
Steve Waugh (Aus) 10,927
Mahela Jayawardene (SL) 10,440
Sunil Gavaskar (Ind) 10,122
S Chanderpaul (WI) 9,918
28-04-2012 The News
Pakistan pocket Int’l Beach Handball title: Pakistan won International Beach Handball Tournament arranged by University of Agriculture Faisalabad in collaboration with Pakistan Handball Association at the campus.
29-04-2012 Dawn
Dawson dethrones Hopkins with majority decision: Chad Dawson took the World Boxing Council light heavyweight crown from veteran former champ Bernard Hopkins with a majority decision at the Boardwalk Hall arena.
29-04-2012 Dawn
Nadal seventh time lucky in Barcelona: Top seed Rafael Nadal defeated Spanish compatriot David Ferrer 7-6 (7-1), 7-5 to winhis seventh Barcelona Open title.
29-04-2012 Daily Times
Sharapova downs Azarenka to claim 25th title: Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova earned her first WTA title of the year as she blasted her way past world number one Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-4 in the final of the Stuttgart claycourt tournament. This was the 25-year-old Sharapova’s 25th title of her career.
30-04-2012 Dawn
India’s Mehta crowned Asia’s best cueist: India’s Aditya Mehta won the 28th edition of the Asian Snooker Championship when he beat compatriot and former world champion Pankaj Advani 7-5 in the final in Doha.
30-04-2012 Dawn
Pakistan gets skeet wildcard entry for Olympics: Pakistan’s skeet shooters got a big boost when they were awarded a wildcard entry for the London Olympics shooting competition, the National Rifle Association of Pakistan (NRAP) announced.
03-05-2012 Dawn
Asif released from British jail, ICC ban to continue: Former Pakistan paceman Mohammad Asif was released from a British prison after completing half of his one-year sentence for spot-fixing.
06-05-2012 Dawn
Ramires, Drogba fire Chelsea to FA Cup glory: Chelsea survived a late Liverpool fight-back to win the FA Cup final 2-1 and lift the trophy for the fourth time in six seasons thanks to goals from Ramires and Didier Drogba.
06-05-2012 Daily Times
Aisam and partner lift doubles crown: Pakistan tennis ace Aisamul Haq Qureshi and his partner Rojer Jean-Julien won the doubles final of the Estoril Open in Portugal, defeating their Australia-Spanish opponents Julian Knowle and David Marrero in a close match. The duo triumphed in a 7-5, 7-5 win.
08-05-2012 The News
O’ Sullivan seals snooker world title: Ronnie O’ Sullivan won the 2012 World Snooker Championship after beating Ali Carter 18-11 in the final at the Crucible Theatre.
10-05-2012 Dawn
Aqeel, Maheen claim Super Series titles: Pakistan’s top player Aqeel Khan brushed aside the challenge from former Davis Cup player Nomi Qamar to land men’s singles crown in the Pizza Hut Super Series Open ranking tennis championship at the Karachi Club.
