Former Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with a corruption case. Abbasi became the country's third high-profile politician to be arrested after Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari. Abbasi was arrested in connection with the liquefied natural gas (LNG) scam, where he and others are accused of illegally awarding LNG terminal contracts for a period of 15 years to a company of their liking in violation of defined rules, incurring losses to the state exchequer. Last year, NAB had launched an investigation against Abbasi and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif over the alleged misuse of authority. Abbasi served as the prime minister from August 2017 to May 2018, following the disqualification of Sharif from office by the Pakistan Supreme Court over the Panama Papers scandal.
Pak lost $50 mn from airspace restrictions
Pakistan's aviation minister said that his country suffered loses of over 8 billion rupees ($50 million) from airspace restrictions imposed since February which affected hundreds of commercial and cargo flights. Pakistan closed its airspace after an attack by a Pakistan-based militant group in Indian-controlled Kashmir led to clashes between the nuclear-armed powers, adding flight time for passengers and fuel costs for airlines. “Over eight billion rupees worth of losses have been suffered by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority,” Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Pakistan’s aviation minister said. Pakistan reopened its airspace to international civil aviation last week.
Maryam dons kurta demanding Nawaz's release
PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz wore a kurta demanding the release of her father and jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. This is not the first time that Maryam has taken to this unusual way of demanding her father's release. She was previously seen wearing a black kurta with a monochrome picture of her father along with a message 'Free Nawaz Sharif'. On Sunday, Maryam wore a green-coloured kurta which had the words 'Free Nawaz Sharif' on the hems while a large sketch of the jailed leader was printed on the front of the outfit with the slogan 'Vote Ko Izzat Do'. Just like last time, matching shoes completed the political leader's look. Maryam has been consistently demanding her father's release from prison since the past few months.
Blast near Afghan university kills six
An explosion near a gate to the campus of Kabul University in the Afghan capital killed six people and injured at least 27 as students waited to take an examination, officials said. Afghan security forces are facing almost daily attacks by Taliban militants, despite reported progress in efforts by the United States to broker an end to Afghanistan's nearly 18-year war. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast just hours after Taliban militants set off two car bombs outside police headquarters in the southern city of Kandahar, killing at least 12 and wounding more than 80. Health ministry spokesman said there were students among the 27 injured taken to hospital after the blast, which a student at the university campus said took place while a number of students waited to appear for an exam.
Kenyan finance minister held on graft charges
Kenyan finance minister Henry Rotich and 27 other treasury officials were arrested on corruption and fraud charges over project building multi-million dollar Arror and Kimwarer hydroelectric dams. The case can become one of the highest profile graft prosecutions in the country’s history. Noordin Haji, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said that Kenyan officials are suspected of making fraudulent payments to the Italian firm and ignoring legal procedures to ensure that the CMC di Ravenna was awarded the contracts. The two dams were budgeted to cost 46 billion shillings ($446 million), Haji said, but the treasury borrowed 63 billion instead, needlessly ratcheting up Kenya’s ballooning public debt, which stands at around 55% of GDP. Hundreds of senior officials and business people are facing graft charges in Kenya, but the number of successful prosecutions remains low.
Taliban shut 42 health clinics
The Taliban forced a Swedish non-profit group to close 42 health facilities it runs in eastern Afghanistan, the organisation said, the latest attempt by the insurgents to show strength amid negotiations to end the country’s nearly 18-year war. In Sweden, the group’s director called the closures “an obvious violation of human rights and international humanitarian law” and demanded that the facilities be allowed to reopen right away. The Taliban currently control nearly half of Afghanistan and are more powerful than at any time since the October 2001 US-led invasion. Sonny Mansson, the country director of the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, said that the Taliban threatened the NGO’s staff by saying that if they do not close the facilities, “it would have consequences for themselves and their families.”
Five Budddha statues vandalised in Nepal
Five Buddha statues have been vandalised near Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha in southwest Nepal, police said. Some unknown people vandalised the statues along the road section adjoining Naya Mill near Shankar Chok, the police said. The statues in sitting posture were constructed with cement, limestone and sand. Each of the statues weighed over 120 kg, they added. The act of destruction was an attempt to damage the social and religious harmony in the area, according to local residents. Meanwhile, Nepali Congress leader Balkrishna Khand has demanded strong action against them. According to the mayor of the municipality, Bashudev Ghimire, authorities are probing the incident. Lumbini is the Buddha's birthplace, one of the world's most important spiritual sites and attracts Buddhist pilgrims from around the world.
Oz boy claims he is Prince Diana's reincarnation
A four-year-old Australian boy has claimed to be the reincarnation of Britain’s Princess Diana. The boy’s father, a noted Australian television presenter, has said that his son believes he is the reincarnated embodiment of Diana. Billy Campbell, son of Australian TV personality David Campbell, was born 18 years after the princess’ death in a car crash in 1997. The bemused father said: “Billy (aged two at this time) pointed and said, ‘Look! It’s me when I was a princess’,” when he spotted Diana on a card. However, David goes on to say that the kid’s obsession with Diana didn’t stop there. Peculiarly, Billy could apparently recount details about Diana’s life as a toddler, he would refer to Princes William and Harry as his “sons” and have conversations with freaked-out family members in which he would casually mention his “boys”. Even more ludicrously, David alleges that his son would talk about Diana’s brother John, who sadly died as a baby just hours after his birth.
Disruptive passenger faces $106,000 fine by airline
A passenger accused of severe misbehavior on a Jet2 flight that had to return to London in June has received a huge bill from the airline. Chloe Haines, accused of “aggressive, abusive and dangerous behaviour” on a flight, has been sent a bill of $106,000. Officials say the plane bound for Turkey had to return to Stansted and was escorted by two Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets.
Florida man jailed for bomb-making tips
A Florida man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for posting bomb-making instructions on websites frequented by extremist groups such as the Islamic State. US district judge K. Michael Moore imposed the maximum possible sentence on Tayyab Tahir Ismail, a naturalized US citizen from Pakistan. The FBI says Ismail, 34, posted bomb instructions last year on five occasions and that they were accurate. "It's the government's position that no offense could be more serious," said Assistant US Attorney Karen Gilbert at a hearing. "Instead of radicalizing people in person, he did the same thing online." Ismail's lawyers had sought a lenient sentence, arguing he suffered through a terrible childhood and has a mental disorder. Moore, however, noted that many people who have a difficult upbringing go on to impressive achievements.
Boy forces McDonald’s to ditch plastic toys
An eight-year-old boy has written an open letter to McDonald’s imploring the fast food chain to discard its plastic Happy Meals toys. William Weir wrote the letter after his mum Carrie told him how bad the plastic toys are for the planet. The letter made such an impact on McDonald’s that they issued a response directly to the boy. “McDonald’s is looking at alternatives that will keep our Happy Meals fun without causing damage to our environment,” a spokesman of the company said.
Mexican drug lord 'El Chapo' sentenced to life in jail
Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman was sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years, and was ordered to pay $12.6 billion in forfeiture. It was likely the last time he will be seen in public before going to Colorado's Supermax prison. Guzman spoke for about 10 minutes in court before the sentence was handed down and called out issues with the jury. “There was no justice here," he said in Spanish, referring to a report that one juror had spoken about misconduct by some other jurors. Rl Chapo, who escaped prison twice in Mexico, also slammed the conditions of his incarceration in New York. The life sentence for Guzman, 62, comes after he was convicted in February of all 10 counts he faced, including engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, which carried a mandatory term of life in prison, as well as drug trafficking and firearms charges.
Veteran Hong Kong actor stabbed in China
Veteran Hong Kong actor Simon Yam was stabbed in the stomach while attending an event in southern China, with police saying his injuries were not life-threatening. The motive was unclear. A suspect was detained following the attack in the Zhongshan Huoju Development Zone in Guangdong province, police said. The 64-year-old actor underwent a minor operation at a hospital in Zhongshan city, his manager Lester Mo said. "He was stabbed in the tummy area and also got a cut on his right hand," Mo said. He was still being treated for injuries to the four fingers of his right hand. Yam, who is also known by his Chinese name Yam Tat-wah, has appeared in more than 125 movies and 40 television series. He played the villain Chen Lo in the 2003 Hollywood film "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life."
Heat wave gripping eastern, central US
A massive heat wave that has enveloped the US Midwest pushed into the Northeast, ushering in temperatures that could top 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees C) in Washington and prompting utilities to take steps to prevent power outages. The huge blob of warm air is likely to blanket the region, home to a third of the US population, said meteorologist David Roth of the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Centre. "There are 124 million people under a heat advisory or excessive heat warning - that's a third of the population," Roth said. The heat wave sprawled from Kansas to the Atlantic Coast, and from South Carolina north to Maine. It was expected to intensify.
