ISLAMABAD, Jan 10 (DNA) – President Dr. Arif Alvi on Friday telephoned the father and mother of Squadron Leader Haris bin Khalid who embraced martyrdom when a PAF aircraft on a routine training mission crashed in Miawali on Tuesday.During the telephonic conversation, the President prayed for peace of the departed souls as well as for the fortitude of bereaved families, a press release issued by the President’s Media Office here said.=DNA
Iran invites Boeing to probe Ukrainian plane crash that killed 176
Iran has invited Boeing to take part in the investigation into a Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week at a time of soaring tensions between Washington and Tehran, killing all 176 people on board, state media reported Friday.The move came after Western leaders said the plane appeared to have been unintentionally hit by a surface-to-air missile hours after Iran launched ballistic missiles at two US bases in Iraq to avenge the killing of its top general in an American airstrike.The ballistic missile attack on the bases caused no casualties, raising hopes that the standoff over the killing of Gen Qasem Soleimani would end relatively peacefully. But Iran has sent mixed signals over whether its retaliation is complete.
Tayyaba torture case: SC sets aside extended three-year sentence against former judge, wife
ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court (SC) has Friday set aside the extended three-year sentence against former additional district and sessions judge Raja Khurram Ali Khan and his wife Maheen Zafar in Tayyaba torture case.The verdict was authored by Justice Mushir Alam, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Yayha Afridi. The apex court maintained the one-year sentence against both convicts which was handed down by the trial court.The apex court exercised special powers under Article 187 and issued a notice to the former judge and his wife stating that the convicts’ appeals are pending under section 328-A.
US envoy Alice Wells to arrive in Pakistan on January 19
ISLAMABAD – US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells will travel to Pakistan from January 19 to January 22.Alice’s tour to Pakistan will be a part of her 10-day visit to the region. The US envoy will hold meetings with senior government officials to deliberate upon the matters of mutual and regional interests.According to an official statement by US, Wells will also visit Sri Lanka and India before reaching Pakistan.
Pakistani students face difficulties in China as KP govt fails to pay stipends
BEIJING – Pakistani students who are studying in China on government scholarships are facing financial difficulties due to KPK government’s failure to pay stipends.According to details government has not paid stipends to students for four months and students are in immense financial pressure. Students said that they have registered complaints on citizen portal but all for naught.Students made appeal to Prime Minister and Chief Minister KPK to direct relevant authorities to issue their stipends.
More than bricks: How international law protects cultural sites
International law experts react to Donald Trump’s threat to attack Iranian cultural sites.Iran is home to some of the world’s most ancient historical sites. Among them are 24 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the ancient ruins of Persepolis, the grand mosque of Isfahan and the Golestan Palace in Tehran where Iran’s last shah was crowned in 1967.When, in a tweet on Sunday, US President Donald Trump threatened to target 52 Iranian sites, including some of cultural significance, if Tehran retaliated over the assassination of top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, it sparked an international outcry. Legal scholars, national security experts and politicians in the US and beyond, condemned the threat.
President Alvi welcomes new Iranian ambassador
ISLAMABAD, JAN 09 (DNA) – The President of Pakistan on Thursday welcomed the arrival of the new Iranian ambassador to Islamabad and expressed his condolences on the occasion of Martyrdom of General Qassim Suleimani and the death of Ukrainian plane passengers in Tehran. Mohammad Ali Hosseini, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Pakistan, today (Thursday), presented his credentials to the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alavi.
Trump addresses nation, de-escalates US-Iran crisis
NEW YORK, – US President Trump signaled a de-escalation of tensions with Iran Wednesday in the wake of latter’s retaliatory attacks against Iraqi bases housing US troops, saying no one was killed and that Tehran indicated its Tuesday’s action would be the end of its vengeance for the killing of a top general.“Iran appears to be standing down which is a good thing for all parties concerned and a very good thing for the world,” Trump said in a televised statement from the White House, flanked by his vice president, cabinet secretaries and senior military officers in their uniforms.
Envoys-designate of UK, Tunisia, Iran present credentials to President Arif Alvi
ISLAMABAD, Jan 9 (DNA): High Commissioner/Ambassadors-designate of the United Kingdom, Tunisia and Iran presented their credentials to President Arif Alvi in a ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Thursday.Christian Turner, the new British High Commissioner to Pakistan has presented his credentials to President Arif Alvi at the President House.Dr Turner has arrived in December last year succeeding Thomas Drew.
Lahore: Metro bus fare increased by Rs 10
LAHORE – The fare of Lahore’s metro bus service has been increased by Rs 10, on Thursday.According to sources, Punjab Finance and Transport Departments had recommended Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar to increase the fare by Rs 20.The departments told the CM that the province is giving annual subsidy of Rs 12.30 billion on current rates and the subsidy will reduce to Rs 10.50 billion if the fare is fixed at Rs 50.
