ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government has decided to lift ban on screening Bollywood films in its theatres. Pakistan blocked Hindi films in its cinemas in a tit-for-tat after Bollywood banned Pakistani artists following the attack on the Army post in Uri. Islamabad moved to allow the screening of Hindi films with PM Nawaz Sharif announcing a four-member committee to look into demands of local theatre owners who are bleeding financially. The terms of reference of the four-member panel were not mentioned in the notification, but according to the amended law, the PM can allow import of films. Under its import policy order, Pakistan had included Indian films in the list of banned items in the last decade. As per procedures adopted over the years, the commerce ministry issued no-objection certificates (NOCs) at the request of the information ministry for import of Indian films. The ministry has prepared a plan for allowing import of two to three Indian films a month through NOCs for screening in Pakistani cinemas.
Uzbek national arrested for Istanbul attack
Istanbul: A 34-year-old Uzbek man suspected of killing 39 people at an Istanbul nightclub on New Year's eve confessed to the massacre, hours after he was captured in a police raid. Authorities detained Abdulgadir Masharipov, who spent 17 days on the run after the attack claimed by Islamic State terror group, along with three women, one an Egyptian and two others from Africa, and an Iraqi man. “The terrorist confessed his crime,” Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin said. He said the fingerprints matched those of attacker. “He was trained in Afghanistan and can speak four languages. He's a well trained terrorist,” said the governor, adding that Masharipov was believed to have entered Turkey in January 2016. Police also confiscated $197,000, two firearms and clips during the raid, that involved 2,000 policemen.
Sikh boy denied school admission in Oz over turban
Melbourne: A five-year-old Sikh boy has been denied school enrolment in Australia for wearing turban as it does not align with its uniform policy, despite a ruling in 2008 against a private college on the issue. “It is disappointing that my son has been forced to abandon his religious practices and identity to access to an education in Melbourne's Melton Christian College,” Sagardeep Singh Arora said. “We have lodged a claim with the Victorian Human Rights Commission.” The school said, “Our college's history represents over 30 years of inclusive religious tolerance. Non prescribed items are not permitted to be worn in addition to the school uniform.”
Death toll from Italy's hotel avalanche rises to 14
Rome: The death toll from an Italian mountain hotel that was all but obliterated by a devastating avalanche has risen to 14. The owner of the hotel begged authorities to evacuate his guests as rescuers who were working through the night pulled five more bodies from the wreck of the hotel.
Eleven people survived the disaster. Fifteen people are still missing. Hotel owner Bruno Di Tommaso sent an urgent email to police and local authorities just hours before the avalanche smothered the Rigopiano Hotel in a blanket of snow, ice, debris and pine trees, last week. He said his guests had been left "terrified" by four powerful earthquakes, that had shaken central Italy that day. Di Tommasso urged authorities to clear the road that connects the hotel, in a remote valley at an altitude of nearly 4,000ft, to the nearest village, Farindola, so that they could be evacuated.
Indian-origin man arrested in multi-million-dollar fraud
New York: An Indian-origin consultant has been arrested for participation in a multi-million-dollar fraud that falsely billed a heath and retirement fund, New York federal prosecutor Preet Bharara said. Shivanand Maharaj conspired to submit false invoices to the fund "for consulting work never actually performed," Bharara said. The co-head of information technology at the fund, Enrico Rubano, approved the payments and received a cut, he added. Bharara said, "Money that should have gone to help pay retirement and health care benefits were instead allegedly diverted to Rubano and Maharaj." They were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their use of electronic communications to carry out the alleged scheme. The court complaint said the amount involved was over $3.4 million.
Blast kill 21, wounds at least 50 in northwest Pakistan
PESHAWAR: A bomb exploded in a market in a north-west tribal region that borders Afghanistan, killing 21 people and wounding at least 50, officials said. Dr Sabir Hussain at the main hospital in Parachinar, the capital of Pakistan's Kurram tribal region, said two wounded victims died during treatment, raising the death toll. Shahid Khan, an assistant tribal administrator, said the explosion took place when the market was crowded with retailers buying fruits and vegetables from a wholesale shop. He said the attack was being investigated. Lashker-e-Jhangvi, a banned sectarian militant group that has attacked minority Shiites Muslims in the past, claimed responsibility for the attack. The bombing took place in a predominantly Shiite area of Kurram, which has seen attack by Sunni militants who have hideouts there. Shiites are a minority in Pakistan.
Transgender beauty queen jailed in Myanmar
Yangon: Transgender beauty queen Myo Ko Ko San has found herself behind bars after a prominent film and soap opera actress sued her over insults posted on a popular celebrity gossip page. The beauty queen was arrested when she landed at Yangon International Airport after she returned from a Thailand trip. According to reports, she is facing charges under Section 66(d) of the Telecommunications Act after allegedly defaming Wut Hmone Shwe Yi, in a series of administrator posts on Cele Cele Small. While awaiting her flight in Bangkok, less than three hours before her arrest, Myo Ko Ko San took to Facebook to deny any association with Cele Cele Small. Ma Shin Thant, a friend of Myo Ko Ko San, said the model would face trial on January 31 and also claims whether the arrest of the model had been motivated by her sexuality. Myo Ko Ko San has represented Myanmar at the transgender Miss International Queen beauty pageant in Thailand in 2015.
Exiled former President 'stole $11.4m' from Gambia
Banjul: Over $11.4 million were "stolen" from Gambia's state coffers by long-time leader Yahya Jammeh who went into exile last week, an adviser to President Adama Barrow said. In his final weeks in power, the former President, who ruled for 22 years, plundered the state coffers and shipped out luxury vehicles by cargo plane. "The coffers are virtually empty. It has been confirmed by the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of the Gambia," the adviser said. Financial experts were trying to evaluate the exact loss, reports said. The former ruler had refused to accept election results but finally left after mediation by regional leaders and the threat of military intervention. West African troops entered the Gambian capital of Banjul to prepare for President Adama Barrow's arrival.
Pak won't free the doctor who helped US to find Osama
Islamabad: A jailed Pakistani doctor believed to have helped the CIA hunt down al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden will neither be released nor handed to the United States, Pakistan's law minister has told legislators. Dr. Shakil Afridi, hailed as a hero by US officials, was arrested after US forces killed bin Laden in May 2011 in a secret raid in a northern Pakistani town that plunged relations between the uneasy strategic partners to a new low. Pakistan has accused the doctor of running a fake vaccination campaign in which he collected DNA samples to help the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) confirm bin Laden's identity. Afridi was arrested soon after the bin Laden raid and charged with having ties to militant Islamists, which he denied. "The law is taking its course and Afridi is having full opportunity of a fair trial," the Daily Times newspaper quoted Law Minister Zahid Hamid as telling the upper house, in response to a lawmaker's query about reports of a possible release.
Nigeria air strike on refugee camp kills 52
Abuja: Nigeria's air force killed at least 52 people and injured 120 in an air strike on a refugee camp in the country's northeast, a spokesman from Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said after the military earlier disclosed the strike was meant to target Boko Haram militants. MSF said the strike occurred in Rann in Borno state, the epicentre of the jihadist group's seven-year-long bid to create an Islamic caliphate. Nigerian General Lucky Irabor, a regional military commander, located the incident at Kala Balge, a district that includes Rann. Irabor, who said it was too early to determine the cause of the incident, told journalists that an unknown number of civilians had been killed, adding that humanitarian workers from MSF and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were among the injured.
