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Pakistan Navy holds joint exercise with Turkish Navy: spokesman

KARACHI: Pakistan Navy carried out bilateral exercise Turgutreis-III with Turkish Navy here after successfully holding Aman-2019 exercise recently, a Navy spokesman said on Saturday.

The first two Turgutreis drills held in Pakistani and Turkish waters earlier.

According to the spokesman Pakistan Navy’s ships PNS Aslat, PNS Alamgir and maritime long-range aircraft participated in joint operations and war tactics with Turkish Navy.The bilateral naval exercise will further promote bilateral defence relations, the spokesman said.A previous exercise covered a wide range of maritime operations encompassing anti-surface, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare as well as maneuvering and communication exercises.Counter piracy drills were also carried out in which boarding teams demonstrated practical boarding operations onboard a suspect vessel.The exercise proved mutually rewarding to hone professional skills of participating personnel from both navies and learn from each other’s experiences.Pakistan Navy ship ‘SAIF’ had earlier participated in joint exercises with the Turkish navy.The exercises were aimed at enhancing interoperability between participating navies through the development of combined tactics, techniques and practices.SAIF is fitted with state of the art weapons and sensors for undertaking all types of maritime operations in multi-threat environment, the Navy said.Turkish Navy earlier also participated in AMAN-2019, a multinational naval exercise hosted by Pakistan from Feb. 8 to 12 in the Arabian Sea.The biennial maritime exercise kicked off in Karachi with the participation of forces from Turkey, the U.S., Britain, China, Australia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Oman.In this drill Turkey was represented by the TCG Gokceada, a naval frigate.The exercise is intended to improve naval coordination between participant states and promote maritime peace and stability.The first AMAN drill was conducted in 2007. Since then, it has been held regularly every two years.Turkish naval forces participated in the exercise in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2017.

GB disaster management issues alert after glacier surge in Hassanabad

GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) has directed residents of Hassanabad village in Hunza to remain alert and cooperate with authorities in light of a potential threat by glacier surge.

The residents of the village have been directed to vacate their houses and move to higher altitudes if they hear a siren from a nearby FWO camp.The Shisper glacier, located west of Hassanabad village, has surged during the last six months and a huge supra-glacial lake has been formed which locals fear can burst or overflow causing extensive damage.GBDMA has urged locals to call 05813-920100 for information and avoid traveling to the Shishper glacier.A high-level meeting to review  the preparedness level was also held at the Force Command Northern Areas (FCNA) headquarters. During the meeting, headed by FCNA Commander Major General Ehsan Mahmood Khan, it was decided that all necessary preparations be completed within two weeks.

Pakistan wants to convert relations with Saudi Arabia into strategic partnership: Fawad

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday said Pakistan wanted to convert bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia into strategic partnership, ARY News reported.

“Joint strategy will be adopted between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in the future. Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visits to the brotherly country has given new impetus to the bilateral relations,” Fawad Chaudhry said in an interview with a Saudi Arabian new channel.Both the countries enjoyed historic relationships and were bound in the fraternal and business ties, he said.The federal minister said Shah Faisal Masjid in Islamabad reflected strong relations between the two countries.He said his ministry was fully cooperating with its Saudi Arabian counterpart in Pakistan. “We have provided special facilities of visa to Saudi Arabian citizens.”

Read More: Saudi crown prince’s visit to strengthen bilateral ties: Fawad

Fawad Chaudhry said there were numerous tourist places in Pakistan which were more beautiful than Switzerland.“Pakistan has the highest mountain range in the world and mesmerising scenic locations. We want people of Arab countries to visit Pakistan instead of Europe for tourism,” he said.He said a comprehensive memorandum of understanding will be signed upon visit of Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.The information minister said a joint committee would be constituted regarding tourism.He said the prime minister’s vision was to build Pakistan on the model of Medina’s state.He also lauded vision of the Saudi Arabian crown prince saying that Saudi Arabian philosophy was emerging as a big power of Islam

Physical remand of Khawaja brothers extended till March 4

LAHORE: An accountability court on Saturday extended the judicial remand of former railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Khawaja Salman Rafique for 16 days till March 4 in the Paragon Housing Society scheme case.

Both the brothers were produced before the court after their judicial remand ended on Saturday..Accountability Judge Najmul Hassan heard the case.During the hearing, the court inquired from the investigation officer (IO) to apprise the court as to what happened to the Paragon reference. The IO replied that it would be presented before completion of 90 days.The court directed to submit the final report against the Khawaja brothers.The hearing has been adjourned till March 4.

Read More: Saad Rafique, brother sent to jail on 14-day judicial remand

An accountability court had on February 2 sent Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother on a 14-day judicial remand to jail.The former minister and his brother were produced before the court by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB)Rejecting the NAB’s plea for further physical remand of the duo, the court instead granted 14-day judicial remand and sent them to jail.Later, speaking to media, Saad Rafique said the NAB had no proof against him or his brother. “Whoever talks about the rights faces the same treatment that we are currently going through,” he moaned.He said he was facing the [cruel] treatment for adhering to the constitution and the law.

No terrorist group exists in Pakistan: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

OXFORD: Former prime minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said no terrorist group exists in Pakistan, ARY News reported on Saturday.

Addressing students at Oxford University, Abbasi refuted any link of Pakistan with recent attack on Indian troops in the territory.The bomb attack on Indian paramilitary police bus at Pulwama in occupied Kashmir, killed around 40 personnel on Feb 14.It is said to be the deadliest attack on Indian occupation forces in Kashmir since a people’s movement against Indian rule began in the region in year 1989.The former prime minister urged for settlement of the Kashmir dispute according to resolutions of United Nations.Abbasi in his address said Pakistan and India are nuclear powers and urged the two countries to solve contentious issues between them with dialogue.Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who is affiliated with Pakistan’s major opposition party Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), said the entire world joined hands but failed to defeat terrorism in Afghanistan but Pakistan on its own defeated terrorists and extremists on its land.Former prime minister while talking on political situation in Pakistan, emphasized for a strong democratic order in the country. He said, a mid-term election is possible, if the incumbent government wouldn’t alter its ways.He also claimed that this government has inflicted historic loss to the economy of Pakistan.

Latest News

Saudi Arabia cuts visa fee for Pakistani nationals

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has announced to slash visa for Pakistani citizens with effect from February 15, Geo News reported. Saudi Arabia has cut visit visa fee from 2000 Saudi Riyals to 338 Saudi Riyal, while the multiple visa fee will be 675 Saudi Riyal effective from February 15, 2019. It may be noted here that Pakistan had already decreased visa fee for Saudi nationals in December 2018. The move comes a few days before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman visit to Pakistan on February 16. Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting on the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman and reviewed the arrangements regarding various engagements of the Crown Prince and his delegation during their two-day stay in Pakistan.

  PM Imran reviews arrangements for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman visit to Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting on the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman and reviewed the arrangements regarding various engagements of the Crown Prince and his delegation during their two-day stay in Pakistan. The meeting decided to give a historic welcome to the Saudi Crown Prince and his delegation as they will arrive here on February 16 on an official visit of Pakistan at the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The Prime Minister told the meeting that the present-day Pakistan was providing the maximum opportunities to foreign investors. He said that all possible facilities would be provided to promotion of investment and business in the country. Imran Khan said the government was ensuring provision of all necessary facilities to business and easy visa. He said Pakistan would play its role for durable peace in the region, adding this was the new Pakistan where the whole world was witnessing. Finance Minister, Information Minister, Petroleum Minister, Advisor on Commerce, SAPM Yousuf Baig Mirza, SAPM Iftikhar Durrani, Foreign Secretary, Secretary Information, Secretary Interior, Secretary Finance, DG-ISPR, Chairman BOI and senior officers attended the meeting.

                       PSL 2019: Pervez Musharraf spotted watching opening ceremony in Dubai

DUBAI: Former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf was spotted watching the opening ceremony of Pakistan Super League (PSL) fourth edition here in Dubai. We can see a glance of former president Pervez Musharraf among the audience enjoying the show. Ceremony begins with a colourful display of an orchestra that makes a formation in the middle of the ground with fireworks in the background. PCB chairman Ehsan Mani takes the stage to express his gratitude to UAE for allowing PSL to be staged here.   

                                                                                                                                                                                 42 Indian soldiers killed, several injured after blast in Indian occupied Kashmir

SRINAGAR: At least 42 Indian soldiers were killed and multiple were left injured after a bomb exploded at Indian-occupied Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Thursday. According to reports 42 personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed while several others were lefty critically wounded and were moved to Indian army’s 92 base hospital at Srinagar’s Badami Bagh. As per reports by authorities the death toll is expected to increase. Senior police officer Munir Ahmed Khan talking to AFP revealed: “An IED went off as a CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) convoy passed by.” It was further revealed by CRPF spokesperson Sanjay Kumar that the explosives were attached inside a car that was driven into the convoy. "It was a powerful explosion. The explosive was car-borne," he stated.

                                                                                                                                                                       PSL 4 tickets for Karachi, Lahore matches to go on sale tonight

LAHORE: Pakistan Super League’s fourth edition will be kicking off the sales for tickets online at midnight , to the Karachi and Lahore matches scheduled at the final phase of the tournament. Reports by Yayvo revealed that the tickets that will be going off online at midnight tonight will range from Rs500 to Rs3,000 for the play-offs and qualifiers range. On the other hand, the final match scheduled to be held on March 17 at the National Stadium in Karachi will have tickets priced from a minimum of Rs500 to a maximum of Rs8,000. The tournament will enter its fourth edition in Dubai tonight with Lahore Qalanders and Islamabad United being the first to face off after a glitzy star-studded opening ceremony.

                                                                                                                                                                    PSL 2019 kicks off with glitzy, colourful ceremony in Dubai

DUBAI: Pakistan Super League (PSL) fourth Edition kick started in Dubai with glitzy and colourful ceremony here on Thursday. The star-studded event welcomed iconic musicians on stage including Junoon’s Ali Azmat and Salman Ahmed as well as Coke Studio sensation Aima Baig. The ceremony kick started with the national anthem of Pakistan. Ceremony begins with a colourful display of an orchestra that makes a formation in the middle of the ground with fireworks in the background. Fawad Khan takes the stage to sing the anthem of the tournament's fourth edition as the teams were seen taking their positions to enter the ground.. 

                                                                                                                                                                           Lovesick on Valentine´s? Museum of broken hearts has the antidote

Forget romantic dinners and roses, the place to be on Valentine´s Day is Zagreb´s Museum of Broken Relationships, a paean to personal objects and stories of heartbreak. From a toaster to an exercise bike and a pair of lacy bras, the small museum imbues seemingly ordinary objects with meaning through captions that detail their role in the unravelling of relationships around the world. The stories swerve from humourous to heart-wrenching. The museum was buzzing Thursday, Valentine´s Day, with groups of friends and also some couples who seeking out an unorthodox way to celebrate love.

"Today being Valentine´s Day, it´s beautiful to read these small little stories," said Kriti Pandey, who came with her husband Pathak. One of the lighter rooms, called "Take the bitter with the sweet," showcases objects like a box of pizza-making ingredients -- a love letter to one woman´s break-up with gluten -- and a diet book with the caption: "This was a present from my ex-fiance... Need I really continue?" But the mood is heavier in "Love in the trenches," an exhibit with items like a wedding dress from Turkey that was never worn because of the groom´s unexpected death. Nearby is a prosthetic leg from a veteran from Croatia´s 1990s war. "The prosthesis endured longer than our love," the caption reads. The unusual idea was born from heartbreak itself. After a break-up, the museum´s two Croatian founders, artists Olinka Vistica and Drazen Grubisic, both turning 50 this year, didn´t know what to do with their shared belongings and wanted to create an option other than the garbage bin. More than a decade later, they have taken the museum on tours to 50 cities around the globe, collecting new objects and stories along the way. "When we started with the project I had no idea what (kind of donations) we were going to get... but it turns out that people are so interesting, everybody has a story to tell," co-founder Grubisic told AFP, adding that they receive around 200 objects by mail per year.

Jon Turner, a 33-year-old British tourist travelling solo in Zagreb, agreed the authentic portrayal of love was a fitting occasion for any visitor on February 14. "It´s really beautiful, some things have made me laugh out loud, some things have made me cry, but yeah I
think it´s really nice you get a snapshot of people´s lives," he said. The theme of the museum´s next overseas stop, the city of York, will revolve around a different kind of break-up: Brexit. Organisers have put out a local call for donations that will put a personal spin on the political drama. "Recently ended a relationship? Wish to unburden the emotional load by erasing everything that reminds you of that painful experience?" the call of submissions asks. "Don´t," it advises, "one day you might regret it."