TEHRAN, MAR 24 (DNA) – few streets and several centuries apart, Iran’s gyms come in distinctive breeds, ancient and hyper-modern, reflecting a society torn between outside influences and the continuing strength of religious ritual. The musical differences are among the most striking. In the shiny new Sport Plus gym in central Tehran, the soundtrack is all pounding DJ mixes and dirty basslines imported from Europe.
Cigarette production: CCP advises to lower criteria for tracking system’s introduction
ISLAMABAD, MAR 24 (DNA) – Amid painstakingly slow progress on the introduction of electronic monitoring system to curb over Rs50 billion annual tax evasions by cigarette manufacturers, the antitrust watchdog has advised the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to lower the qualification criteria for creating a level playing field.
All Muslims in sub-continent Pakistanis: Aasiya Andrabi
SRINAGAR, MAR 23 (DNA) – In occupied Kashmir, Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DeM) celebrated Pakistan Day in Srinagar, today, in which the party chief Aasiya Andrabi said that all Muslims in the sub-continent are Pakistanis.
Aasiya Andrabi addressing the party workers during a programme organized to commemorate the Pakistan Day said, “Every Muslim in the sub-continent is a Pakistani on the basis of Islam, Iman (faith), Quran and love for Prophet Muhammad (SAW).”
Processes related to presidential election in Azerbaijan under completion
BAKU, MAR 23 (DNA) – The deadline for the publication of the list of registered candidates for the presidential election in Azerbaijan, scheduled for April 11, will expire March 22. According to the calendar of events and main actions for the preparation and holding of the presidential election, the list of registered candidates must be published by the Central Election Commission (CEC) 20 days before the election day, that is, until March 22.
PTF names squad for Davis Cup
ISLAMABAD, MAR 22 (DNA) – Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Wednesday finalized the Davis Cup team to play against Uzbekistan in early April here at the grass courts of the Pakistan Sports Complex. The PTF recently held trials to select two players for the vacant places in the Davis Cup team, said a press release issued here. Shahzad Khan and Heera Ashiq will join Aisam ul Haq Qureshi, Aqeel Khan and Muzammil Murtaza to complete the number of five players now permitted in a team.
Forex reserves continue bleeding trend as govt amasses $7.6 billion in loans
ISLAMABAD, MAR 22 (DNA) – The foreign exchange reserves held by the central bank continued to bleed even after the government borrowing spree continued and amassed a whopping $7.6 billion of loans. As the forex reserves keep their depletion trend, the country requires $5-$7 billion to keep them adrift. The central bank has no other tool at its disposal to halt the fall in foreign exchange reserves aside letting the rupee devalue against the dollar.
British PM seeks EU backing on spy attack
BRUSSELS, MAR 22 (DNA) – British Prime Minister Theresa May will on Thursday seek to unite EU leaders in condemnation of Moscow over the poisoning of a former Russian spy, but she faces resistance from states keen to protect their Kremlin ties. May will brief her colleagues at a Brussels summit on the progress of the investigation into the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the English city of Salisbury using a deadly Soviet-developed nerve agent.
Upset over biography, Sanjay Dutt sends legal notice to writer
NEW DELHI, MAR 21 (DNA) – Veteran Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt has served legal notice to writer Yaseer Usman as the latter did not seek former’s permission for writing biography. Dutt tweeted, “I have not authorised either Juggernaut Publications or Yasser Usman to write/publish my biography. Our lawyers had sent them a legal notice, in response to which Juggernaut Publications said that contents of the proposed book are based on information available in public domain from authentic sources.
Sick air travelers most likely to infect next row: study
MIAMI, MAR 21 (DNA) – People who fly on airplanes while contagious can indeed get other people sick, but the risk is mainly to those seated next to them or in the adjacent row, US researchers said Monday. The study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) is the first to quantify the odds of getting sick based on a passenger’s proximity to an infectious person. Researchers studied 10 transcontinental flights and meticulously tracked passenger movements to estimate the likelihood of common respiratory infections like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and influenza, which are spread by tiny droplets in the air and on surfaces.
China pursues peaceful development: Li Keqiang
BEIJING, MAR 21 (DNA) – Premier Li Keqiang said Tuesday that China pursues peaceful development and will never seek expansion. It is a misinterpretation to see China’s cooperation with other countries and its assistance to underdeveloped ones as strategic expansion, Li told a press conference following the conclusion of the annual legislative session. “We will focus on managing our own affairs well,” he said.
