PTA discontinues roaming service on Afghan SIMs

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has discontinued roaming facilities on Afghan SIMs in Pakistan on a directives issued by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Geo News reported.

The Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) had informed the government that Afghan SIMs were being openly used inside tribal areas in Pakistan by terrorists and criminal elements.

That is why the LEAs had requested the Prime Minister to block such services to deter crimes inside Pakistan involving communication between cross border terrorists.

On the request of LEAs, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has directed the PTA to discontinue roaming facilities on Afghanistan SIMs to block anti-state and criminal activities of terrorists in Pakistan.

Prime Minister has desired that this task may be completed in next couple of days This act will be helpful in impeding communications between the terrorists and will also help in reducing crimes related to kidnapping for ransom.

CAA suspends porter service at all Airports

KARACHI: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has suspended porter service at airports across Pakistan and has inducted the porters in the vigilance department.

Sources add, that porter service will be available for aged and disabled passengers, however regular passengers will not be provided porter service for some time.

Additionally porter service provided by private airlines to their passengers will continue to function.

Congress, BJP spending billions on hiring air charter service

ISLAMABAD: Around 130 air charter service operators across India are having a boom time due to extensive use of helicopters and business jets by parties like BJP and Congress for electioneering dubbed as most expensive in country's history.

Industry sources said the parties and individual politicos are roughly spending Rs 3.50 to Rs 4 billion to criss cross the country in chartered planes during campaign for the world's biggest democratic exercise spread over two months.

The Pioneer newspaper reported on Tuesday. So far BJP s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has clocked maximum number of flying hours to campaign for the party followed by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi experts in the industry said. The operators usually charge Rs 70 000 to 75 000 per flying hour for a four seater single engine chopper, while business jets cost Rs 250 000 to 300 000 per hour but the rates have increased significantly due to surge in demand.

Secretary of Business Aircraft Operator's Association R K Bali said the sector was witnessing negative growth of two percent in the last two years, but business has seen impressive growth as leading parties hit an aggressive campaign trail.

According to Directorate General of Civil Aviation of India figures around 130 non-scheduled aircraft operators are in the business currently out of which around 40 are big operators having four to five private jets which ferry people abroad also. They are operating around 520 aircraft and choppers.

Captain G R Gopinath the pioneer of low cost airline in India and promoter of Deccan Charters said. Even after hopping in and out of choppers and jets national leaders like Modi and Rahul may not be able to cover more than 200 constituencies.

Gautam Sahani of Subha Aviation said the increased frequency by chartered flights has significantly helped earnings by airports across the country as they charge fees for landing take off and parking.

Similarly the aircraft maintenance firms are also having a decent share of the business as increased flying hours means good upkeep of the aircraft.

 

2014 Pulitzer prize: Public service prize went to WP, Guardian reporters

NEW YORK: The 2014 Pulitzer Prize winners were announced at Columbia University on Monday. As was expected by many, the Public Service prize went to the Washington Post and Guardian reporters behind last year's NSA revelations, based on the documents leaked by whistleblower Edward Snowden. It was also no surprise to see the Boston Globe staff win the breaking news award for its coverage following the Boston Marathon bombings.

This year, as Huffington Post's Michael Calderone pointed out, is the first time in a decade that no Pulitzer has been awarded in the Feature Writing category.

Journalism

Public Service
The Guardian US, and The Washington Post, for their coverage of the NSA. In case you were wondering, here's Edward Snowden's statement on the win.

Breaking News Reporting
Staff of The Boston Globe for "its exhaustive and empathetic coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings and the ensuing manhunt that enveloped the city."

Investigative Reporting
Chris Hamby of The Center for Public Integrity, Washington, DC for "his reports on how some lawyers and doctors rigged a system to deny benefits to coal miners stricken with black lung disease, resulting in remedial legislative efforts."

Explanatory Reporting
Eli Saslow of The Washington Post for "his unsettling and nuanced reporting on the prevalence of food stamps in post-recession America, forcing readers to grapple with issues of poverty and dependency."

Local Reporting
Will Hobson and Michael LaForgia of Tampa Bay Times for "their relentless investigation into the squalid conditions that marked housing for the city’s substantial homeless population, leading to swift reforms."

National Reporting
David Philipps of The Gazette, Colorado Springs, CO for "expanding the examination of how wounded combat veterans are mistreated."

International Reporting
Jason Szep and Andrew R.C. Marshall of Reuters for "their courageous reports on the violent persecution of the Rohingya, a Muslim minority in Myanmar that, in efforts to flee the country, often falls victim to predatory human-trafficking networks."

Feature Writing
No award

Commentary
Stephen Henderson of the Detroit Free Press for "his columns on the financial crisis facing his hometown."

Criticism
Inga Saffron of The Philadelphia Inquirer for "her criticism of architecture that blends expertise, civic passion and sheer readability into arguments that consistently stimulate and surprise."

Editorial Writing
Editorial Staff of The Oregonian, Portland for "its lucid editorials that explain the urgent but complex issue of rising pension costs, notably engaging readers and driving home the link between necessary solutions and their impact on everyday lives

Editorial Cartooning
Kevin Siers of The Charlotte Observer "for his thought provoking cartoons drawn with a sharp wit and bold artistic style."

Breaking News Photography
Tyler Hicks of The New York Times for "his compelling pictures that showed skill and bravery in documenting the unfolding terrorist attack at Westgate mall in Kenya."

Feature Photography
Josh Haner of The New York Times for "his moving essay on a Boston Marathon bomb blast victim who lost most of both legs and now is painfully rebuilding his life."

Letters, Drama, and Music

Fiction
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (Little, Brown)

Drama
The Flick by Annie Baker

History
The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772-1832 by Alan Taylor (W.W. Norton)

Biography or Autobiography
Margaret Fuller: A New American Life by Megan Marshall (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

Poetry
3 Sections by Vijay Seshadri (Graywolf Press)

General Nonfiction
Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation by Dan Fagin (Bantam Books)

Music
Become Ocean by John Luther Adams (Taiga Press/Theodore Front Musical Literature)