Finance minister Ishaq Dar calls on his UAE counterpart

Finance minister Ishaq Dar calls on his UAE counterpart

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Finance Senator Ishaq Dar said on Wednesday that the government put the economy on the right track through the enforcement of financial discipline.

He said problems confronting the economy will be tackled very soon.

Ishaq Dar, who is having a series of meetings with the ruling elite of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), had yet another important meeting on Wednesday with Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, deputy ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Industry of the UAE.

During the meeting, Ishaq Dar said Pakistan cherishes the close friendly ties with the people and the leadership of the UAE.

A day earlier he had a key meeting with Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and vice president and prime minister of the UAE, in Dubai and handed over a special message from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif regarding subjects of mutual interest.

Ishaq Dar told the UAE dignitaries that Pakistan’s industry had started showing a positive growth of 5.2 percent. He said revenue collection in January 2014 was Rs167 billion indicating an increase of 26 percent over the collection of the corresponding period last year which was a positive sign of achieving the full year’s target.

It is understood that the visit of Ishaq Dar and his meetings with the UAE leaders would greatly help improving the ties between the two countries.

Ishaq Dar discussed with his UAE counterpart matters of bilateral interests and the minister reminded him that the foundation of the close and fraternal relations between the brotherly countries was laid by the founding leaders of the UAE the late Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum praised the capabilities of the leadership of Pakistan and expressed his optimism that it would soon overcome the challenges confronting the country.

He assured that his government would extend all possible cooperation for the economic development of Pakistan and extended his best wishes to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He appreciated the invaluable contributions of the expatriate Pakistani community in the development of UAE.

Ishaq Dar maintained that the government believed in the market economy and the facilitation of businesses to enhance economic growth. He said Pakistan’s industry had started showing positive growth.

“The prospects of utilising natural gas in Pakistan are bright as the government is incentivising oil and gas exploration to overcome energy shortages by tapping indigenous natural resources and soon come up with a new exploration policy,” the visiting minister said.

Sheikh Hamdan also recalled his visit to Karachi 11-12 years back and remarked that the city had since expanded. He took keen interest in the developmental activities in Pakistan.

Ishaq Dar told his interlocutor that both Karachi and Lahore had expanded and developed rapidly while Lahore, which had developed recently as a comparable city, was attracting many people in Pakistan.

Ashraf vows to fight Pakistan's case in utmost good faith at ICC meet

Ashraf vows to fight Pakistan's case in utmost good faith at ICC meet

LAHORE: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board, Zaka Ashraf, says that he will fight Pakistan’s case in utmost good faith at International Cricket Council’s (ICC) meeting scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday), Media reported Friday night.

 

“No matter how strong India maybe, we will have our say in the strongest of words”, said he talking to media before leaving for Singapore to attend the ICC meeting.

 

Sources say that a decision regarding the draft proposed by so-called Big 3, namely England, Australia, and India for virtually assuming the control of the ICC is going to take center stage at the meeting. The ICC had delayed a decision on reforms in Dubai last month.

 

Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa, which have smaller cricket economies, have sought time to consider radical changes to the International Cricket Council proposed by the rich boards of Big 3, which the “Opposing 3” had officially rejected in January 28 conference in Dubai.

 

Ashraf says he has plans to take the Sri Lankan and South African boards in confidence in one-on-one meetings, that too before the ICC meeting.

 

He was on the view that it would help them take a harmonious stand.

 

“I will try to convince them that as we all are in the same boat then we must stand united”, said he.

Activists: Syrian rebels free hundreds from prison

Activists: Syrian rebels free hundreds from prison

BEIRUT: Syrian rebels launched a new push in the northern province of Aleppo on Thursday to capture key symbols of the government and stormed a major section of a prison there, freeing hundreds of prisoners in the process, activists said.

 

The advance came amid a relentless air campaign by government forces that killed at least 11 people in an opposition held neighborhood of the provincial capital of Aleppo.

 

Activists said government aircraft dropped so-called barrel bombs — containers packed with explosives, fuel and scrap metal that inflict massive damage upon impact.

 

At least 246 people, including 73 children, have died in the past five days alone in similar aerial bombardment of the city, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

 

The rebels on Thursday declared their intention to liberate Aleppo´s central prison and the Kweiras military air base east of the city.

 

Opposition fighters have been trying to capture the facilities for months.The prison, in particular, has been caught in the deadly stalemate of Syria´s civil war.

 

Rebels have been besieging the facility, estimated to have around 4,000 prisoners, for almost a year.

 

They have rammed suicide car bombs into the prison´s front gates twice, lobbed shells into the compound and battled frequently with the hundreds of guards and troops holed up inside.

 

Thursday´s push began when a suicide bomber from the al-Qaida-linked Jabhat al-Nusra brigade blew himself up at the gates.

 

That was followed by a ground offensive during which rebels managed to gain control of most of the facility.

 

The Observatory said at least 300 prisoners were freed by the rebels. The anti-government Aleppo Media Center said rebels had gained control over the prison.

Karachi: Rangers operation at Sohrab Goth, several suspects held

Karachi: Rangers operation at Sohrab Goth, several suspects held

KARACHI: Rangers conducting search operation held several suspects at Hassan Noman Colony in Sohrab Goth on Friday morning here, Media reported.

 

Rangers’ sources said that the operation started on secret information relating to the presence of miscreants in the area and a strong contingent of 400 Rangers conducting raids at the suspected houses and hideouts.

 

Women Rangers and commandos especially trained for ant-terrorism operation are also participating in the operation.

 

Rangers’ spokesman said that all exit and entry streets/roads have been blocked and the entire area cordoned off.

US drugstore chain to stop tobacco products sales

US drugstore chain to stop tobacco products sales

CVS Caremark, America's second-largest drugstore chain, is quitting selling tobacco products at its more than 7,600 US drugstores as it focuses more on providing health care.

 

The Massachusetts-based company said Wednesday that it will phase out cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco by Oct. 1, a move that will cost about $2 billion in annual revenue but won't affect its 2014 earnings forecast. CVS Caremark leaders say removing tobacco will help them grow the company's business of working with doctors, hospitals and other care providers to improve customers' health.

 

CVS Caremark competitor Walgreen Co., the largest US drugstore chain, sells tobacco, as does the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which also operates pharmacies in its stores. But Target Corp., another major retailer with pharmacies in its stores, does not.

 

Tobacco is responsible for about 480,000 deaths a year in the US, according to the Food and Drug Administration, which gained the authority to regulate tobacco products in 2009.

 

The federal government has renewed efforts to reduce the death and disease caused by tobacco use on the heels of the 50th anniversary of the landmark 1964 surgeon general's report that launched the anti-smoking movement. A new 980-page report issued last month by acting Surgeon General Boris Lushniak also urged new resolve to make the next generation a smoke-free generation.

 

Most independent pharmacies also do not sell tobacco, according to the National Community Pharmacists Association.

 

Several cities, including San Francisco and Boston, have considered or passed bans on tobacco sales in stores with pharmacies. Other places like New York City have sought to curb retail displays and promotions and raise the legal age someone can buy tobacco products.

 

CVS notches about $1.5 billion annually in tobacco sales, but it expects the $2 billion drop in revenue from phasing out tobacco because smokers often buy other products when they visit their stores. The company brought in more than $123 billion in revenue in 2012 and ranks 13th on the 2013 Fortune 500 list of biggest US companies.

 

CVS Caremark Corp. and other major drugstore chains have been adding clinics to their stores and expanding their health care focus for several years now. They've been preparing, in part, for an aging US population that will need more care and for the millions of people who are expected to gain health insurance coverage under the federal health care overhaul. Their pharmacists deliver flu shots and other immunizations, and their clinics also have been expanding the scope of care they deliver. They now help people manage chronic illnesses like high blood pressure and diabetes in addition to treating minor illnesses like sinus infections.

 

CVS Caremark has been working to team up with hospital groups and doctor practices to help deliver and monitor patient care, and the presence of tobacco in its stores has made for some awkward conversations, CVS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Troyen A. Brennan said.

 

US retail sales of tobacco, which is comprised largely of cigarettes, were about $107.7 billion in 2012, according to market researcher Euromonitor International. Less than 4 percent of retail cigarette sales come from drugstores like CVS and Walgreens.

 

The share of Americans who smoke has fallen dramatically since 1970, from nearly 40 percent to about 18 percent. But the rate has stalled since about 2004, with about 44 million adults in the US smoking cigarettes. It's unclear why it hasn't budged, but some market watchers have cited tobacco company discount coupons on cigarettes and a lack of funding for programs to discourage smoking or to help smokers quit.

Hoffman autopsy inconclusive, further tests needed

Hoffman autopsy inconclusive, further tests needed

NEW YORK: Four people were taken into custody on drug charges after police investigating Philip Seymour Hoffman's death executed search warrants, two people with knowledge of the investigation said Wednesday, and the medical examiner's office said more tests are needed to determine what killed him.

There was no timetable for Hoffman's autopsy to be finished, said medical examiner's office spokeswoman Julie Bolcer, who declined to discuss the pending tests. Toxicology and tissue tests are typically done in such cases.

Police believe the Oscar-winning actor may have died from a drug overdose, though his death is being investigated as suspicious pending a more definitive ruling by the medical examiner.

Hoffman was found dead Sunday with a needle in his arm, and tests found heroin - but no traces of the potent synthetic morphine additive fentanyl, which is added to intensify the high and has been linked to 22 suspected overdose deaths in western Pennsylvania - in samples from at least 50 packets in his apartment in Manhattan's Greenwich Village, law enforcement officials have said.

The four people were taken into custody Tuesday night after police executed search warrants at several city apartments based on a tip provided by a confidential source that they may have supplied Hoffman with drugs, according to two people with knowledge of the investigation who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because investigators have not obtained evidence to corroborate the reported connection.

Police say undisclosed quantities of heroin and marijuana were found in three apartments in a lower Manhattan building. The four suspects, three of whom live in the building, face charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance. Two also face charges of criminal use of drug paraphernalia. They were awaiting arraignment.

The New York Police Department hasn't officially announced a connection between the arrests and the Hoffman investigation.

The NYPD has launched an intensive effort to determine the source of drugs in Hoffman's apparent overdose even though courts have found that under state law drug dealers can't be held liable for customers' deaths.

A 1972 state appellate division case found a dealer can't be found guilty of manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide for selling heroin and syringes to a customer who later dies because, the court ruled, legislation enhancing punishment for drug crimes didn't redefine homicide to include the sale of an illicit drug that results in death.

And holding a drug dealer criminally liable for a customer's overdose death could prove difficult for the district attorney's office, said James Cohen, a Fordham University School of Law professor who runs a clinic that represents federal criminal defendants.

"It's not just enough that you know, if you will, theoretically or academically, that heroin could kill," he said.

Former NYPD detective Scott Prendergast, who worked on the high-profile investigation into the 1996 heroin overdose death of Jonathan Melvoin, a keyboard player with the rock band Smashing Pumpkins, said it's not uncommon for investigators to track down dealers following suspected overdose deaths especially when the drugs are stamped with telling names.

Some of the packets found in Hoffman's apartment were variously stamped with the ace of hearts and others with the ace of spades. Melvoin was said to have used heroin called Red Rum.

Investigators have determined that the "Capote" star made six ATM transactions for a total of $1,200 inside a supermarket near his home the day before his death, law enforcement officials have said. Investigators are examining a computer and two iPads found at the scene for clues and recovered syringes, a charred spoon and various prescription medications, including a blood pressure drug and a muscle relaxant, law enforcement officials have said.

Hoffman's relatives have planned a private funeral for Friday.

On Wednesday night, Broadway theaters were to dim their lights in memory of the Tony Award-nominated actor, and members of the theater community planned to hold a candlelight vigil. (AP)