ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Ishaq Dar has said that austerity measures would save Rs40 billion. Addressing a post-budget press conference here on Thursday, the minister said that the government was going to tax Haj operators instead of pilgrims, adding that the government had put the country on the right path from day one.He said that the government would increase the salaries of government employees next year.
Petroleum ministry increases prices
ISLAMABAD: The Petroleum Ministry has approved an increase in the price of petroleum products following an increase in the sales tax. The price of petrol has been raised to Rs100.63 from an earlier price of Rs99.77. The price of diesel has been increased by 90 paisas to Rs105.50.
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg kill friends in “This is the End”
LOS ANGELES: Actor Seth Rogen and writer-producer Evan Goldberg, known for R-rated stoner comedies such as “Superbad” and “Pineapple Express,” make their debut as directors this week with “This Is the End.”Rogen, 31, and Goldberg, 30, told Reuters that they wanted to push the boundaries of comedy by having actors play themselves dealing with an apocalypse in the film, which will be released in North America on Wednesday.”It always seemed weird for all of us to all be in a movie and not acknowledge that we all somehow know each other, because we’ve been in so many movies together already. To me it was almost distracting that we didn’t play ourselves,” Rogen said.
The Future of the European Defence
François Fillon
The ongoing debate about the possibility of a European defence is as old as Europe itself.During the past 4 decades, the subject has been discussed at length, but in fact, very few steps forward have been taken.During the Cold War, the European defence has been reigned back by the existence of the NATO, which appeared to many Europeans as the most reliable and efficient structure.
An eye view of Iranian presidential elections
Mohsen Milani
In normal presidential elections, it is only the candidates and their platforms that matter. Not so in Iran. There, the key player in the upcoming presidential elections is the septuagenarian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is constitutionally barred from running for the office. He recognizes that the election result will have a profound impact on his own rule and on the stability of the Islamic Republic.
New health threats for China as it grows richer: Lancet
BEIJING: The Chinese are increasingly facing diseases of affluence such as cancer, according to a study to be published Saturday in a leading medical journal, with threats to health including diet, pollution and city living. The trends identified in The Lancet, mined from data from 1990 to 2010, illustrate the human impact of China’s speedy development and urbanisation.
Second consecutive French Open final for Sharapova
PARIS: Maria Sharapova survived a gruelling test to reach the French Open final for the second straight year on Thursday with a 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 defeat of Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka. In a disjointed match opposing two of the biggest hitters in women’s tennis, the defending champion opened the semi-final in style, then lost her way for a set and finally, on the back of a brief rain delay, resumed control.
Michael Jackson’s teen daughter attempted suicide: mother
LOS ANGELES: Michael Jackson’s daughter Paris was rushed to a California hospital early on Wednesday after a possible suicide attempt, celebrity news website TMZ reported. A sheriff’s spokesman told AFP officers had responded to a home in Calabasas near Los Angeles, where Jackson lives, over a “medical situation,”but refused to confirm the identity of the person taken to hospital.
Japan and France to tighten nuclear, defense ties
TOKYO: Japan and France agreed on Friday to deepen their cooperation on nuclear technology and to discuss joint development of military equipment, vowing to raise the tenor of their partnership.Visiting French President Francois Hollande and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued a joint statement pledging to prevent nuclear proliferation while raising safety standards for nuclear energy.
IMTIAZ HUSSAIN ABBASI: A Businessman Par Excellence
Atif & Farhan Khan
Chairman Imtiaz Super Market talks to Centreline & DNA
Chairman Imtiaz Super Market gave an exclusive interview to Centreline and DNA. Imtiaz Hussain rose to the pinnacles of fame by dint of his hard work. He shared some of the details as to how he achieved so many successes in his life. Excerpts from his interview are produced here for people’s interest.
