Web Desk
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Foreign forces creating hurdles in Pak-China corridor: PM
” These forces do not want Pakistan to continue its march on the road to development.”
He stated this while speaking at a launching ceremony of Credit Guarantee Scheme for Small Farmers at a function in the Capital.
The Prime Minister said the scheme is aimed at ensuring to trickle down effects of progress and prosperity.
He said inflation rate is at the reasonable level and programmes have been initiated to overcome energy problem. He said only today the Government decided to allocate Rs 250 billion for establishment of power plants during next budget.
About law and order situation, Nawaz Sharif said Zarb-e-Azb launched to eliminate terrorism has achieved significant successes.
He condemned cowardly attack on innocent and peace loving people in Karachi on Wednesday. He assured that criminals involved in this heinous act would be brought to justice.
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Iranian boats fire warning shots at commercial ship: US
The incident reflects rising tensions in the Gulf, fueled in part by the conflict in Yemen that pits Iranian-backed Shiite rebels against pro-government forces supported by a Saudi-led coalition of Sunni Arab states.
The Iranian patrol craft fired across the bow of the Alpine Eternity in international waters and the commercial ship then headed towards the UAE, two defense officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.
The Alpine Eternity issued a radio call for help and the Iranian boats fired a second wave of warning shots, the officials said.
UAE authorities heard the radio call and deployed coast guard boats in response. The Iranian boats then departed the area, the US officials said, adding that there were no Americans aboard the commercial ship.
A US naval ship was about 20 miles (32 kilometers) away at the time and “monitored the radio traffic” but received no request for assistance, Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steven Warren told reporters.
Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority said no Singaporeans were on board and that it “verified with the ship manager of Alpine Eternity that the crew members are safe and the vessel is currently in UAE waters.”
The Pentagon acknowledged it was the third incident in a few weeks involving Iranian forces confronting commercial vessels in or near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
“This is something that we continue to watch, that we’re concerned with,” he said.
Iran recently seized a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel in the Gulf, harassed a US-flagged ship and warned the United States not to interfere with an Iranian aid ship headed for Yemen. The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, the Maersk Tigris, was eventually released, after Iranian officials said a commercial dispute had been settled.
‘Robust’ US presence
Following the seizure of the Maersk Tigris, the US Navy recently provided security for American-flagged commercial ships crossing through the Strait of Hormuz. But US commanders called it off after about a week, saying tensions had appeared to ease.
Asked if the beefed up security for the vital waterway was canceled too soon, Warren said: “We’re always in a position to reevaluate in the future.”
Twelve US naval ships, including an aircraft carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, are currently in the region but no additional vessels were due to deploy to the area as a result of Thursday’s incident.
“We maintain a robust presence in the Persian Gulf,” he said.
Another possible maritime showdown emerged this week.
The United States has demanded that an Iranian aid ship bound for Yemen change course and head towards Djibouti, where the United Nations is overseeing humanitarian efforts for the Yemen conflict.
But a senior Iranian commander rejected the request and warned the Americans that “a fire might start” if there were attempts to block Tehran’s aid efforts.
Although Iran has said it would provide a naval escort for the aid ship, so far the vessel has no warships guarding it. The Iranian cargo ship is currently heading southwest off the coast of Oman, Warren said.
The ship in Thursday’s incident, the Alpine Eternity, is an oil-chemical tanker that had last stopped at a port in Bahrain, according to the marinetraffic.com shipping website.
The vessel is listed as part of the fleet of Transpetrol, a commercial shipping firm that transports oil and gas, with offices in Belgium, Bermuda, Norway and Switzerland. -AFP
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Hand grip is telltale of heart’s health: study
Canadian-led researchers carried out a large-scale probe into evidence that a firm hand grip is a rough yet reliable indicator of good health.
Their study covered nearly 140,000 patients aged between 35 and 70 in 17 countries, whose health was monitored over four years.
During checkups, the patients were asked to grasp a gadget called a Jamar dynamometer, which measures muscle strength.
Every five-kilogramme (11-pound) decline in grip strength was linked to a 16-percent increase in the risk of death from any cause over the study’s four years.
The decline was also associated with a seven-percent increased risk of a heart attack, and a nine-percent increased risk of a stroke.
Hand grip is a stronger forecaster of early death than systolic blood pressure, the study found.
The results were the same when factors such as age, tobacco and alcohol use, education level and employment status, which affect health, were taken into account.
There was no link, though, between grip strength and diabetes, respiratory disease, injuries from falls or fractures.
“Grip strength could be an easy and inexpensive test to assess an individual’s risk of death and cardiovascular disease,” said Darryl Leong, an assistant professor of medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, who led the investigation.
“Doctors or other healthcare professionals can measure grip strength to identify patients with major illnesses such as heart failure who are at particularly high risk of dying from their illness.”
More work is needed to calibrate hand grip, as the strength can depend on the individual’s size, weight and ethnicity.
Research, too, is needed to understand why muscle strength seems to be a telltale of health — and whether the risk of death and cardiovascular disease could be eased by improving muscle tone. -AFP
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Political activists among145 suspects nabbed in Karachi
Following the Karachi bus attack, Rangers and police came into action and raided different areas of the megapolis.
Paramilitary personnel nabbed more than 35 suspects from Liaquatabad and Frontier Colony areas. The suspects arrested from Liaquatabad also included unit in-charge, joint unit in-charge and committee members associated with a political party.
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Read: MQM’s unit in-charge among 15 activists picked up by Rangers
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Meanwhile, Rangers and police apprehended over 100 other suspects during raids in different areas of the city, who were shifted to an undisclosed location for further interrogation.
Sources told that the arrested suspects are being interrogated with respect to targeted killings in the city.
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US offers aid to probe attack on Karachi Ismailis
“We will support efforts to bring all those responsible to justice and stand ready to provide assistance to the investigation of this tragic attack,” US Secretary of State John Kerry said.
Pistol-wielding gunmen in Pakistan’s biggest city stormed the bus carrying members of the Shiite Ismaili minority on Wednesday.
The claims by the Sunni Islamic State (IS) militants, posted on Twitter, are likely to raise fears over the Middle East-based jihadists’ growing influence after they announced in January the creation of a branch in what they called “Khorasan province”, encompassing Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of surrounding countries.
Kerry condemned what he called a “heinous attack,” adding the “American people stand in solidarity with the people of Pakistan.”
“Make no mistake: There is more strength by far in the respect and solidarity that we feel towards one another than there could ever be in any terrorist attack,” he added in a statement.
Kerry offered his condolences to the victims and their families as well as “the Aga Khan, who has led the Ismaili community in investing in so many important development and education projects not only in Pakistan, but around the world.”
Kerry was taking part Thursday in a summit at Camp David with Gulf leaders called by President Barack Obama in part to coordinate efforts to combat IS, which has captured large areas of Iraq and Syria. -AFP
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Four miscreants killed in shootout with FC
According to details, FC launched search operation against terrorist sanctuaries in Johaan, Ispilanji and Harboyi areas, during which an exchange of fire took place between the security personnel and the miscreants.
As a consequence, four miscreants were killed and several arrested.
During the action, three ferari camps and an explosives-laden vehicle were also destroyed by the personnel.
FC men also seized arms and explosives from arrested miscreants which included 12 SMGs, 250 kg explosive material and 30 hand grenades.
Nearly 400 FC personnel took part in the offensive, who also had a backup military chopper.
The deceased and arrested miscreants were involved in attacks on security forces in Noshki and other terrorist activities.
Three FC personnel were also reported to be injured due to militants’ gunfire.
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Proofs of RAW hand in Karachi bus attack found: sources
Pistol-wielding gunmen in Karachi stormed a bus carrying members of the Ismaili minority Wednesday, killing at least 47 in the first attack in the country officially claimed by the Islamic State group. However Pakistan’s Foreign Office denied the claims, saying IS had no footprints in the country.
Read more: Karachi bus attack death toll rises to 47
In the current development, the security forces have discovered clues of RAW hand in Karachi attack.
Military Sources told that the security institutions were also investigating the source of funding for terrorists.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry also blamed RAW for carrying out terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
Chaudhry stated that the Indian government had been informed about RAW’s hand in terrorist activities being conducted in Pakistan and evidence had also been provided to them.
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CM Sindh orders resolution of Karachi water crisis
While chairing a meeting over water shortage in Karachi, CM Sindh advised Sherjeel Memon to assure provision of 1000 tankers of water to Karachi daily. He also directed MD KWSB for the repair of faulty water pumps at the earliest.
Qaim Ali Shah has asked Syed Hashim Raza Zaidi to submit a detailed report regarding repair work on pumps within one week.
Sherjeel Memon, MD KWSB, Commissioner Karachi and other officials concerned attended the meeting.
Residents of Karachi have been facing acute water shortage for many days. Many areas of the megalopolis including Malir, SITE, Gulistan Johar, New Karachi, FC Area, Baldia Town, Orangi Town, Landhi, Korangi, Manghopir, Khokhrapar, Lines Area and Jamshed Town are under stress due to water crisis.