ICC name hosts of mega events to be held from 2016 to 2023

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the names of the hosts for its various mega events to be played between 2016 and 2023.

According to sources, cricket’s Big Three have distributed the hosting of all cricket events among themselves.

The World Twenty20 would be hosted by India in 2016 while Australia would host the Champions Trophy in 2017.

The One-day International World Cup would be played in England in 2019 and the World T20 would be held in Australia in 2020

Later, India will host two mega events – Champions Trophy in 2021 and World Cup in 2023.

Two suspects held, weapons seized in Hangu search operation

HANGU: The security forces claimed to have arrested two suspected persons and seized a huge cache of weapons during the search operation in the district on Friday. Talking to reporters, Col Afrasiyab said that acting on a tip-off, the security forces raided the dens and hideouts in various areas of the district and arrested two suspects.

Three machine guns, seven SGP-9 machine guns, 98 rocket shells, two rocket launchers, 10 sophisticated machine guns, 10 detonators, explosive materials used in improvise explosive devices (IEDs), five suicide vests, huge quantity of explosives, six masks, hundred of handgrenades and thousands of cartridges had been recovered from their possession, he said. The official said timely action by the security forces had saved the area from destruction and massacre.

Bridal fashion show held in Dallas

DALLAS: A large number of people thronged the Park Plaza Dallas to attend FunAsia bridal fashion show presented by Prince photography.

Various stalls of different products for men and women were setup where people took a keen interest in local fashion designers’ work.

The brides and fashion models walked the ramp while local artists also performed at the beginning of the show.

Program organizer Nizar Ali and Monicca Sharmaa Kolluri thanked the participant
Nizar Ali also announced more events in the near future.

Chaand Raat Mela will be held on July 28th in Dallas Meena Bazaar.

OSCE observers held in Ukraine released

 

AP The head of foreign military observers, Col. Axel Schneider, speaks to the media following his release in Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine on Saturday

Pro-Russia insurgents in eastern Ukraine on Saturday released the seven OSCE military observers and five Ukrainian assistants who had been held for more than a week.

The observers were seized on April 25 in Slovyansk, as they travelled with an Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe observer team. The insurgents said they possessed unspecified suspicious material and alleged they were spying for NATO.

An observer from Sweden was also seized as part of the team, but was released earlier.

Shortly before the release, the insurgents’ leader in Slovyansk, Vyacheslav Ponomarev, was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying he ordered the release because of increasing insecurity in the city.

Two Ukrainian helicopters were reported shot down outside the city on Friday, killing two crew members and the Ukrainian Defence Ministry said two other soldiers were killed in a clash on the outskirts. Mr. Ponomarev said 10 local people were killed in a confrontation with soldiers on Slovyansk’s outskirts, but there was no independent confirmation.

Despite the release, tensions in Ukraine heightened sharply after at least 42 people died in clashes between government supporters and opponents in the Black Sea port of Odessa on Friday. The clash began with street fighting between the two sides, in which as least three people were reported killed by gunfire, then turned into a grisly conflagration when government opponents took refuge in a building that caught fire after protesters threw firebombs inside.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman on Saturday decried the Odessa deaths as evidence that the interim government in Kiev encourages nationalist extremists.

“Their arms are up to their elbows in blood,” Russian news agencies quoted Dmitry Peskov as saying.

Four killed in held Kashmir, say police

HELD SRINAGAR: Suspected militants on Sunday killed two policemen guarding the home of a pro-India politician in held Kashmir.

Two militants sprayed bullets towards the home of a National Conference politician who was inside meeting party workers in the town of Khrew, 25 kilometres south of the main city of Srinagar, an officer and a party official said.

“The two policemen died before reaching hospital,” the officer at the scene told AFP on the condition of anonymity. The attack sparked a gun battle with forces on patrol in the area that left both of the militants dead, the officer said. Yawar Masoodi, a youth leader of the National Conference and the party workers were unharmed. The militants fled into nearby mustard fields after snatching the police officers’ weapons.

Government forces chased them, sparking the gun battle as reinforcements from a nearby army camp also moved in, the officer said. “Both the attackers were later neutralised and the snatched weapons also recovered,” Inspector General Nalin Prabhat from the federal Central Reserve Police Force said.

At the time, Masoodi was in a “closed door meeting” with party workers discussing election campaign plans, said National Conference spokesman Junaid Azim Mattu. “These two individuals arrived at the gate. On being stopped for frisking by the police guards they suddenly took out weapons from under their ferans (traditional Kashmiri tunics),” Mattu said.

Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, from the National Conference party, said the attack highlighted security concerns for all politicians in the region. The fighting has left tens of thousands, mostly civilians, dead in the past 25 years. “The attack on Yawar’s residence is evidence of the continued risk associated with being a mainstream politician in Kashmir,” Abdullah said on Twitter.

Several held during operation in Karachi areas

KARACHI: Several suspected persons were rounded up during a search operation in different areas of Karachi, Geo News reported Saturday.

Police conducted raids in Patel Para and Gulshan-e-Iqbal areas of the metropolis and held many suspects.

Police cordoned off block 7 of Gulshan-e-Iqbal and sealed the entry and exit points of the area. Rapid Response Force (RRF) personnel also took part in the action.

Police searched a residential building and apprehended five persons.

Earlier, an alleged gangster was killed in Kalakot area of Lyari during a raid jointly conducted by the police and the Rangers.

The police and the paramilitary force conducted the raid on a tip off about presence of the criminal in the area and killed the suspect in an exchange of fire.

The police said that the gangster identified as Arshad was affiliated with Sheraz Comrade group. His body was shifted to Civil Hospital for medico-legal formalities.

Moreover, two robbers were killed in a police encounter in Hasan Square area of the city.

30 held as blast kills 24 in Islamabad Fruit Market

ISLAMABAD: Police have arrested as many as 30 suspects during a search operation following blast at the Fruit Mandi which killed at least 24 people and injured many others on Wednesday.

According to reports, four investigations team have been sent to Multan, Kabirwala, Burewala and Arifwala while police have also arrested five suspects from Kabirwala, Pakpatan and Arif Wala.

During the search operation, which was carried out in I-11, I-10 and slum areas, Afghan nationals were also arrested.


The United Baloch Army (UBA), an obscure militant group, has claimed responsibility for the attack and termed it a revenge for the security forces’ operation against militants in parts of Balochistan. However, the interior ministry has rejected the claim of the UBA.

Walima of Asma Jahangir’s son held in Lahore

LAHORE: The walima ceremony of Jilani Jahangir, son of former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and noted human rights activist Asma Jahangir, was held at Royal Palm Country Club here on Saturday evening.

Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, judges of Supreme Court, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, MNA Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, former president of SCBA Ali Ahmad Kurd, MQM leader Farooq Sattar, ANP leader Afrasiab Khattak, former Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, PCB Chairman Najam Sethi, prominent journalists Hamid Mir and Sohail Warraich, a large number of lawyers and people from different walks of life attended the ceremony.

Functions held across KP, Fata to celebrate Pakistan Day

PESHAWAR: A number of functions were held in the provincial capital and other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) to mark the Pakistan Day.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the day dawned with 21-gun salute in the provincial capital. Special Darbars were held in army units to pay tribute to the heroes of Pakistan Movement.

An exhibition of defence equipment was also held at the Kernal Sher Khan Stadium, which was opened by Peshawar Corps Commander Lt-General Khalid Rabbani.Tanks, armoured vehicles, air defence radars and other equipment were displayed at the exhibition, which was thronged by a large number of people.

The people enjoyed the performance of the army band and the air show of the army aviation. They also enjoyed the performance of the paratroopers.The National Highways and Motorways Police Sector M-1 celebrated the day at the main motorway toll plaza Peshawar under the supervision of Sector Commander M-1 SSP Muhammad Tahir.

At the toll plaza the officers of Motorway M1 welcomed commuters, briefed them about traffic rules and regulation and distributed road safety pamphlets and booklets. The Gandhara Hindko Board, a literary, cultural and social welfare organization, arranged a Hindko mushaira or poetry recital session. The programme was presided over by senior poet Sajid Sarhadi. Prof Gahzala Yousaf and Prof Gulnaz Arshad were chief guests.

The poets, including Sheen Shauket, Saeed Gillani, Sikandar Hayat, Naseem-e- Sehar, Farooq Jan Babar, Awais Khiyal, Ziaud Din , Zafar Naveed Jani and others paid poeticized tributes to

all the political leaders and workers who struggled for the independence.

MINGORA: Events were organised in Swat district to mark the 23rd March.The main programme was held in Wadudia Hall in Saidu Sharif were children sung national songs and presented tableaus.Swat District Coordination Officer Syed Imtiaz Hussain Shah, Brig Zahid Hussain, other government officials and people from all walks of life attended the ceremony.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Jamaatud Dawa organized a rally outside the Town Hall. The participant of the rally included former member provincial assembly Khalifa Abdul Qayyum, trade leader Chaudhry Jamil Ahmed, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Zahid Muhibullah and Qari Khalil Ahmed Siraj.

MANSEHRA: Speakers at a seminar titled ‘The vision of Pakistan Resolution and currentPakistan’ urged the government to devise a comprehensive strategy to put the country on the path to development and prosperity.

LAKKI MARWAT: The District Boys Scout association arranged a functionat Government Primary School No. 1, Mela Shahabkhel to mark the day. Member Provincial Assembly Munawar Khan’s brother Ameer Nawaz Khan was the chief guest and ADO physical education and sports Nisar Muhammad presided over the event.

GHALLANAI: The day was celebrated in the Mohmand Agency with enthusiasm. A ceremony was held in Ghallanai and attended by officials of the political administration, tribal elders and people from all strata of the society in large. Political Agent Khushal Khan hoisted the national flag.

Another record broken: Biggest art class held in Lahore

LAHORE: Over 5,000 school children set a new world record on Friday by sitting through the largest art lesson of the world at Punjab Stadium.
The record was previously held by Chinese Taipei with 4,810 children.
As many as 6,000 students from Beaconhouse School System exhibited great discipline in the 30-minutes class as they painted the Mughal-era style buildings.
The Guinness Book team then counted the papers prepared by the children and affirmed 5,351 valid, declaring Pakistan the new record holder. The stadium echoed with slogans of Pakistan zindabad as the announcement came.
Addressing the participants, Sports Board Punjab Director General Usman Anwar praised the students and said that Pakistani children had the potential to regularly set and break records.
Sports Secretary Muhammad Khan Khichi was also present.
Young scientists
An exhibition was organised at the Lahore Expo Centre as part of the festival under the aegis of the Ministry of Science and Technology. Several government, private and educational institutions, including the National University of Science and Technology, the Pakistan Engineering Council, the National University of Oceanography, the Pakistan National Accreditation Council, the Center for Applied and Molecular Biology, the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority, the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority and the National Institute of Electronics Islamabad.
Thousands of students from 47 universities arranged 75 stalls at the exhibition. Students displayed models of dams, bridges, important buildings, roads and electronics and won praise from the audience.
An electronic bicycle model by Muhammad Tauseef of Government College of Technology, Sialkot, earned great appreciation from the large gathering. A jury would announce the winners on Saturday (today) after examining the models and listening to students’ presentations.
Separately, a large book fair has also been organised at the venue, where publishers have displayed a large number of academic, religious, historic and scientific books. A digital Quran has also been displayed.
Farming
An exhibition of Best Agricultural Produce is also underway at the Lahore Expo Centre. Department of Agricultural Information Punjab, Ayub Agricultural Faisalabad, Agricultural Department, Institute of Rice Research Kala Shah Kaku and many other research institutes are participating in the exhibition.
Information is being given to farmers on how to protect their crops from disease. Farmers are also being educated on methods of preserving fruit and vegetables. Several agricultural experts talked on the occasion. They said farmers could not get more production and profit since they were unaware of the use of modern technology.