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  • David Cameron’s Wikipedia page hacked, restored

    Visitors to the pages of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders were greeted by a bright red background, this afternoon and a message to “VOTE LABOUR.”

    Click here for live updates of UK general election.

    Ukip’s Wikipedia entry was also hacked to show the same picture and message.

    The pages were returned to their original states within minutes, but not before eagle-eyed Twitter users had spotted the change.

    Millions of people across Britain are casting their votes today as Labour and the Tories remain locked in a dead heat.

  • PK-95 by-polls: Unofficial results declare JI’s Aizazul Mulk winner

    According to unofficial and unconfirmed results of PK-95, JI’s Aizazul Mulk won the by-election with 19,812 votes to his credit.

    He was followed by Awami National Party’s (ANP) nominee Bahadur Khan, who secured 15,954 votes.

    Aizazul Mulk is also the head of Lower Dir chapter of Jamaat e Islami. Mulk and Bhadaur both are popular among the masses in the constituency.

    The PK-95 seat fell vacant after JI emir Sirajul Haq resigned following his nomination as the party chief. He had secured the seat in the General Elections 2013.

  • CM Sindh hits back at Mirza for Zardari-bashing

    Addressing a press conference here, he blamed former home minister Sindh Zulfiqar Mirza for provoking his supporters against the government.

    He condemned Dr. Mirza’s tirade against Zardari and Faryal Talpur.

    Those who are attempting to tarnish image of PPP leadership have now lost their repute, said the CM Sindh.

    Shah said Asif Ali Zardari is an institution and every PPP worker was raged at mud-slinging launched by Mirza against Mr. Zardari.

    In the past, Mohtarma Shaheed Benazir was also subjected to false allegations by her opponents, he recalled.

  • Ex-election commissioner admits printing of extra ballots

    According to details, the judicial commission to probe alleged rigging in Elections 2013 conducted its hearing during which PTI’s third witness – former election commissioner Punjab Mahboob Anwar – was questioned.

    PTI’s counsel Abdul Hafiz Pirzada questioned Anwar about his supervisor under whom he was working during the General Elections 2013. In reply, the former provincial election commissioner told that he worked under the then chief election commissioner and complied with his advice.

    Anwar, in his reply, admitted that the decision of printing extra ballot papers was made upon ROs’ discretion, saying that he did not seek permission from anyone for this, but informed the higher officials.

  • German spies curb Internet snooping for U.S. after row: media

    Allegations that the BND has helped the NSA spy on European officials and firms has put strains on Angela Merkel’s governing coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD) and could damage U.S. relations and even the conservative chancellor’s own popularity.

    An INSA poll on Wednesday showed that 62 percent of Germans think the BND row threatens Merkel’s credibility. Ultimate responsibility for the BND lies with her office.

    The Sueddeutsche daily and WDR and NDR broadcasters reported that the BND’s station in Bad Aibling this week stopped sending the NSA information garnered from Internet surveillance.

    The step was taken after the NSA refused to provide clear justification of each request for surveillance of individuals or organizations, a condition agreed by the BND and chancellor’s office. The condition is already required for fax or phone surveillance.

    The BND and German government declined to comment.

    Surveillance is a sensitive issue in Germany as a result of the extensive snooping by the Stasi secret police in Communist East Germany and by the Gestapo in the Nazi era.

    Revelations by former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden about wide-ranging NSA espionage in Germany caused public outrage when they first surfaced a couple of years ago.

    The SPD has put Merkel in the spotlight over the allegations and wants the list of ‘selectors’ – IP addresses, search terms and names – the BND had been tracking for the NSA made public. These are widely seen as being crucial to establish whether the BND was at fault in helping the NSA.

    So far Merkel has ruled that out, saying it must be agreed with the United States, and she has defended cooperating with U.S. agencies to fight international terrorism. She says she would answer questions by a German parliamentary committee.

    A close Merkel ally, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere, has faced calls to resign but denies he lied to parliament over the BND’s cooperation with the NSA.

  • ‘Indian stance on Dawood Ibrahim coinciding with Pakistan’

    In a weekly press briefing, the newly-installed FO spokesperson Qazi Khalillulah said Pakistan has been taking up the issue of Indian involvement in various parts of Pakistan from time to time. After the visit of Indian Foreign Secretary to Pakistan in March, the Foreign Secretary had briefed the media about the Indian involvement in FATA and Balochistan, he added.

    Responding to a question regarding release of Mumbai attacks suspect Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and subsequent international pressure, Mr. Khalilullah said the Sanctions Committee required international travel ban, arms embargo and freezing of assets in this regard. “All these measures have been taken and are highlighted during our interaction with our international partners.”

    To another query, Pakistan and the United Kingdom enjoy very close relations. “We want to extend our best wishes to them. Our cooperation is not dependent on a particular party forming the Government. We have longstanding relationship with UK and we are confident that we will have very close cooperation with the new Government.”

  • Turkish man jailed over deadly cat torture

    Mustafa Can Aksoy, 21, filmed himself last year killing the cat with knife cuts and blows to the head in the western city of Eskisehir, the Hurriyet daily reported.

    He was found guilty by a court in the city on Wednesday of needlessly killing the animal and sentenced to three years in jail, it said. His lawyers said they planned to appeal.

    The cat called Iletki, belonged to a local cafe called “Cafe de Cat”, whose owners were among the plaintiffs against Aksoy.

    Details of the crime emerged when the footage surfaced on the Internet.

    “I admit my guilt. I regret what happened. I was not always the kind that kills and animal,” Aksoy was quoted as telling the court.

    But the judge ruled that in view of the severity of the incident, the accused would not be able to benefit from a suspension of the sentence or it being converted into a fine.

    Turkey has in the last years adopted much tougher legislation to combat abuse against animals, in particular the stray cats and dogs that roam throughout its big cities.

    The lawyer for the Platform for Justice for Animals Mustafa Caki hailed the ruling, saying it elevated animals above being mere objects.

    “In determining the penalty the court has shown sensitivity in determining that animals do not just have an economic value,” he was quoted as saying by Hurriyet. -AFP

  • Saudi Arabia says considering five-day Yemen truce

    U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, addressing a news conference alongside Jubeir in Riyadh, welcomed the proposal and added that neither Saudi Arabia nor the United States was talking about sending ground troops into Yemen.

    Hundreds of civilians have been killed in air raids and fighting since a Saudi-led coalition began strikes against the Houthis on March 26, aimed at pushing the Iranian-allied militia back from captured areas and restoring President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s government.

    The fighting and a coalition arms embargo have also caused hunger and shortages of food and fuel, worsening Yemen’s humanitarian crisis and prompting alarm around the world.

    “The pause will affect all of Yemen for a period of five days. The actual date will be announced shortly as well as the requirements. This is all based on the Houthis complying with the ceasefire,” Jubeir said.

    Despite the air strikes, the Houthis and forces loyal to a former president have remained entrenched in areas they seized earlier this year and on Wednesday took an important district in Aden, leading to speculation about a possible coalition land operation.

    Kerry added that he was “very, very concerned” by Iranian activities in Iraq, Yemen and elsewhere.

  • Australian FM calls on COAS Gen.Raheel

    According to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), during the meeting, matters of mutual interest including defence and security co-operation between both the countries came under discussion.

    Australian FM appreciated the successes of Zarb-e-Azb and sacrifices rendered by Pakistani security forces in this operation, said ISPR.

    Furthermore, Julie Bishop also appreciated Pakistani security forces efforts towards regional stability.

  • Britons vote – for their national bird

    Unlike the United States, which has the bald eagle, France, the rooster, and Brazil, the rufous-bellied thrush, the United Kingdom has no official bird as its symbol.

    A vote in the 1960s found the robin – he/she of the snowy Christmas card – to be Britain’s favourite ornithological representative. An online poll seeking to test that closes on Thursday.

    Sixty “candidates” have been whittled down to 10 – the robin, puffin, hen harrier, red kite, mute swan, barn owl, blackbird, blue tit, and wren.

    The pecking order will be known on Friday, around the time results from that other election appear. – Reuters