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NAB law doesn't need reformation, but scrapping altogether: PML-N

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-|N leader and former National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has said the National Accountability Bureau needs no reformation but scrapping altogether.He was...

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Italian woman freed 18 months after being kidnapped in Kenya: PM

ROME: A young Italian woman who was kidnapped in late 2018 from an orphanage in Kenya, has been freed, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced on Saturday.Silvia Romano was 23 and working as a...

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NAB law doesn't need reformation, but scrapping altogether: PML-N

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-|N leader and former National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has said the National Accountability Bureau needs no reformation but scrapping altogether.He was...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]




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Tiger Force volunteers urged to serve people

TIMERGARA: The volunteers of the Prime Minister’s Corona Relief Tiger Force were urged to serve the people without any political consideration. They were administered oath at a ceremony at...

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Martyred Major Nadeem buried

HAFIZABAD: Funeral prayer of Major Nadeem Abbas Bhatti, who was martyred near Buleda, Balochistan, was offered at Buraj Dara village on Saturday. Scores of people, including politicians, army...

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NAB law doesn't need reformation, but scrapping altogether: PML-N

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-|N leader and former National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has said the National Accountability Bureau needs no reformation but scrapping altogether.He was...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]




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Three 'robbers' held

Three men have been arrested after an encounter in Korangi on Saturday.According to Awami Colony police, four suspects riding on two motorcycles were busy in looting a citizen when the cops carrying out routine patrolling reached the scene and tried to intercept the suspects.On seeing the police,...




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No COVID-19 quarantine facility to be set up in Manghopir: Saeed Ghani

The Sindh government has assured the local Manghopir representatives that it will not establish any quarantine centre in Union Council 4, as keeping suspected patients of the coronavirus in the locality would be a risky proposition keeping in view the weak civic infrastructure of the area.The...




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CM Murad Ali Shah assures mayor of increasing salaries for KMC employees

Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar called on Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday to discuss the issue of increased allowances of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s employees.According to a statement issued by the corporation, the mayor said that his meeting with the CM helped...




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Hearing of anti-state, hate speech cases put off due to lockdown

A anti-terrorism court on Saturday adjourned the hearing of cases pertaining to anti-state and hate speeches against leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and London factions without any proceedings because of the coronavirus lockdown.The hearings of as many as 27 identical cases was...




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Five conference centres to be set up to ensure witness protection during court proceedings

On the directives of Karachi Additional Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, Deputy Inspector General Police Security and Emergency Service Division Maqsood Ahmed chaired a video link meeting regarding the establishment of a video conference system for the protection of witnesses and...




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Three key U.S. coronavirus officials in self-quarantine after COVID-19 exposure

Three senior officials guiding the U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic were in self-quarantine on Saturday after coming into contact with someone who had tested positive for the disease, their agencies and spokesmen said.




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Britain to introduce 2-week quarantine for arrivals

LONDON: Britain plans to introduce a 14-day mandatory quarantine for most international arrivals, reports said Saturday, despite growing pressure on the government to relax virus lockdown measures. It comes as the UK, which has the world’s second highest coronavirus death toll after the US,...




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Italian woman freed 18 months after being kidnapped in Kenya: PM

ROME: A young Italian woman who was kidnapped in late 2018 from an orphanage in Kenya, has been freed, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced on Saturday.Silvia Romano was 23 and working as a volunteer in the orphanage in Chakama village in southeast Kenya when she was seized by gunmen in...




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Needy Tunisians get food aid via text messages

TUNIS: A Tunisian NGO has set up a food bank that dispenses aid by text message to some 300 needy families rendered more vulnerable because of the coronavirus pandemic.The initiative, which had been long in the making, was finally launched at the end of April to coincide with the start of the holy...




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Fourteen new COVID-19 cases detected on expat flights

A total of 14 positive coronavirus cases were detected on the May 8 expat return flights, the state-run National News Agency said Sunday.




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DC warns profiteers, hoarders of stern action

Rawalpindi : Deputy Commissioner Captain Anwar ul Haq Saturday said that profiteering and hoarding would never be tolerated especially in the holy month of Ramazan and those found violating the law would be dealt strictly.In a statement issued here, he said that no one would be allowed to cheat...




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Free distribution of diabetes medicines to deserving patients

Islamabad: The Diabetes Centre and Islamabad Capital Territory Administration have collaborated to deliver much-needed and life-saving medicines to deserving diabetes patients free of cost under prevailing difficult circumstances after Coronavirus outbreak and lockdown.Hamza Shafqaat, Deputy...




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Migratory birds enjoy free space amid reduced human activities

Islamabad : Reduced human activities outside due to COVID-19 lockdown has not only contributed to the revival of nature through lowering pollution level and limiting human interference but also provided an opportunity to the migratory birds to fly freely without any threat of poaching.World...




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'Inclusive strategies needed to reach out to daily wagers, freelancers'

Islamabad : Parliamentarians and civil society representatives while participating in a virtual conference urged the government to urgently develop an integrated mechanism engaging different stakeholders and active civil society organizations to reach out to a variety of daily workers and...




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‘Umar not prepared to show remorse and seek apology’

LAHORE: Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Independent Disciplinary Panel retired Justice Fazal-e-Miran Chauhan has said Umar Akmal ‘is not prepared to show remorse and seek apology’ in his detailed judgement in the spot-fixing case that saw the Pakistan batsman slapped with a three-year suspension from all forms of the game.

Umar was provisionally suspended hours before he was to appear for Quetta Gladiators in the opening match of the Pakistan Super League on Feb 20 and was charged with two breaches of Article 2.4.4 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code on March 17. On April 9, the PCB referred the matter to the chairman of the Independent Disciplinary Committee after the batsman opted not to request for a hearing before the Anti-Corruption Tribunal.

“It appears that he [Umar Akmal] is not prepared to show remorse and seek apology, make admission that he failed to fulfill his responsibility under Anti-Corruption Code, Article 2.4.4, rather he tried to take refuge under the pretext that in the past whenever any such approaches were made, the matter was reported by him,” said Justice Chauhan in his remarks.

“As far as Charge No.1 is concerned, I do not see any circumstances to mitigate the nature of offence, particularly, when the participant [Umar Akmal] has not cooperated with the PCB Vigilance and Security Department and the investigating team.

“In view of the admission of the participant that he failed to disclose to PCB Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department, the details of the approaches and invitations extended to him without unnecessary delay.

The charge as framed is proved and the participant has rendered himself liable to be punished for breach of Article 2.4.4.

“Charge No.2, breach of Article 2.4.4 of the Code by failing to disclose to the PCB Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department of the PCB, full details of the approaches and invitations received by you [Umar Akmal] to engage in corrupt conduct under the Code in respect of matches in PSL 2020.

“It is also admitted by him [Umar Akmal] that he failed to report the approaches and invitation to the PCB Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Depart­ment, as required by the PCB Code, Article 2.4.4. In view of the above charge as framed, stood proven and participant has rendered himself to be punished under Article 6.2 of the PCB Code.”

Umar’s elder brother and Pakistan Test discard Kamran had already announced that his brother would file an appeal against the punishment. Umar has to file the appeal within 14 days as the PCB then will appoint an independent adjudicator to hear that.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2020




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Govt likely to unveil tax-free budget for 2020-21

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has drafted tax proposals for Budget 2020-21 mainly focusing on “simplification of laws and removing tax anomalies,” Dawn has learnt from knowledgeable sources.

Unconfirmed reports are that the government is likely to announce a ‘tax-free budget’, an official in the FBR told Dawn, adding a final decision will be taken after consulting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after Eidul Fitr.

Also read: Govt, IMF agree to put on hold $6bn programme

Meanwhile, Finance Adviser Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has already termed the next year budget a ‘corona-budget’.

It will depend on the IMF whether it considers Pakistan’s proposal to lower tax target for TY21. The Fund had proposed a tax target of Rs5.1 trillion for the next year, which is higher by 30pc from the FY20’s proposed collection.

Consultation with IMF after Eidul Fitr

For the current year, the IMF has lowered the FBR tax target to Rs3.9tr, from Rs4.8tr to subside the impact of Covid-19 on businesses. However, achieving this benchmark also depends on the revival of activity before and after Eid and the entire June, the official added.

Another senior tax official told Dawn that the Fund officials meeting with Pakistani economic team will determine the direction of the next budget whether it will be tax-free or have some taxation to achieve the following year’s target.

The official said the FBR has already completed its homework on budget proposals for the next year and is currently working on identifying anomalies that should be removed.

“We are also working on simplification of tax laws to facilitate taxpayers,” the official said.

At the same time, the FBR is also engaging all stakeholders to identify problems related to taxation for redressal. “We will also consider tax incentives in the next budget for some sectors to help them revive their business,” they added.

Some of the proposals on the table from stakeholders are the revival of zero-rating for the five export-oriented sectors, allowing lower rates of sales tax on domestic sales of textile, clothing, waiver of CNIC conditions for traders and reducing the sales tax rate to 5pc from 17pc. “These are the demands of the stakeholders,” the official said.

Tax officials privy to budget-making said the FBR will try to avoid the introduction of new tax measures but will defend the continuation of those already in place. “It will be best to preserve our existing tax measures for now and see onward in the year how it progresses,” the officials commented.

At the moment, the focus is on the ease of doing business and facilitating taxpayers through information technology support. As the economy will revive, the FBR will support any new taxation proposals, they continued.

However, a senior tax official said the FBR cannot do away with maximum existing tax measures. “We need money for running the government machinery,” he said, adding other measures like printing of notes will add to inflationary pressure in the country.

The FBR has already worked out the impact of ongoing lockdown and closing down of businesses on the country’s revenue collection. The IMF has approved the incentive package for the construction sector on the request of Prime Minister Imran Khan to create employment.

“We are under an IMF programme so all budget proposals will be discussed with them,” the official said.

The FBR estimates a revenue loss of Rs450 billion in the first quarter (July-September) of next fiscal year in case the partial lockdown remains. It further projects that in case the partial lockdown extends, the tax body will see another shortfall in revenue realisation to the tune of Rs350bn.

According to the official, the FBR will try to recover some portion of the shortfall in the second half of the year. However, the government will have no other options but to seek a loan to bridge revenue shortfall. “You cannot bridge such a huge gap with new tax measures,” the source said.

Moreover, the FBR estimates also show that imports will remain on the lower side in the first half-year and so is the case of exports until orders revive. The domestic economy will revive to some extent while revenue collection from the services sector will be much lower from last year’s level.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2020




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Jeep Grand Cherokee drivers sit back and enjoy – with new HARMAN infotainment and audio systems

Sciacca, Italy, May 2013 – A brand new connectivity experience is awaiting drivers of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee: The new Uconnect™ infotainment system by HARMAN will help drivers stay connected to their vehicles and the world around them, featuring increased voice recognition capabilities and more realistic navigation. They can even stream off-board entertainment and other content through the Connected Media Center (CMC).




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The Sound of Efficiency: The GreenEdge™ Initiative

Professional sound systems like those used in performance venues such as stadiums, theaters, cinemas and night clubs need tremendous power to amplify sound to their audiences. In these instances, did you know HARMAN offers audio solutions that reduce...




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Rock 'n' roll pioneer Little Richard dies at age 87

Little Richard, the self-proclaimed "architect of rock 'n' roll" who built his ground-breaking sound with a boiling blend of boogie-woogie, rhythm and blues and gospel, died on Saturday at the age of 87.




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Rare syndrome tied to COVID-19 kills three children in New York, Cuomo says

Three children in New York have died from a rare inflammatory syndrome believed to be linked to the novel coronavirus, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Saturday, a development that may augur a pandemic risk for the very young.




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Three key U.S. coronavirus officials in self-quarantine after COVID-19 exposure

Three senior officials guiding the U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic were in self-quarantine on Saturday after coming into contact with someone who had tested positive for the disease, their agencies and spokesmen said.




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Rock 'n' roll pioneer Little Richard dies at age 87

Little Richard, the self-proclaimed "architect of rock 'n' roll" who built his ground-breaking sound with a boiling blend of boogie-woogie, rhythm and blues and gospel, died on Saturday at the age of 87.




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Players feel compensation is key when taking risk

As the possibility of a season start date increases, Major League Baseball Players Association board members Chris Iannetta and Andrew Miller are concerned about pay and health.




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Steelers' Tomlin wants 'fairness' in reopening of team facilities

As the NBA begins to allow practice facilities to reopen on a team-by-team basis, with state and local rules regarding reopening dictate which teams can welcome players back, one NFL coach wants his league to take a different approach when pro football gets back to work.




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Moo's NFC business card: The last one you may ever need

Tired of carrying hundreds of business cards? What you only needed to carry one? That's the idea behind this Moo card with embedded NFC tag inside it. You just tap it to a phone with NFC-capabilities and it share just about any information you want.




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The impact of Occupy Wall Street

The Occupy Wall Street protests has enlarged the spotlight on the financial district's questionable practices that have contributed to the country's economic downturn. At a panel discussion called, The Finance Crisis: Lessons Learned from Canada and the Way Forward, at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C., Robert Rubin, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, sat down with Chrystia Freeland and told her what he thinks of the Occupy Wall Street movement.




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The Finance Crisis: Part Three

At a panel discussion called, The Finance Crisis: Lessons Learned from Canada and the Way Forward, at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C., Robert Rubin, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, shares his thoughts on the EU debt crisis, the pros and cons of the United States and the impact of Occupy Wall Street, with Chrystia Freeland, Global Editor-at-Large of Reuters.




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Immelt says GE can succeed in China independently

Jan 19 - In an interview with Reuters Global Editor-at-Large Chrystia Freeland, GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt touts the conglomerate's success with joint ventures in China, but says GE has succeeded on its own.




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Taipei tech team takes 3D printing to the streets

Apr. 13 - A team of self-described geeks in Taipei have taken to the streets on a bicycle equipped with a 3D printer which they're using to turn plastic waste into useful products. They call their printer the "Mobile Fab" and say it not only helps promote recycling, but also demonstrates how technology can be applied in a socially responsible way. Tara Cleary reports.




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Samsung Electronics tips first annual profit fall in three years

Global smartphone leader Samsung Electronics Co Ltd on Thursday confirmed expectations for its first annual profit decline since 2011, although a pickup in the fourth quarter hinted that earnings may have stabilized in the short term.




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Astronaut Jessica Meir's return to Earth has been far from ordinary

As the whole world was affected by the pandemic, "only three of us who were in space at the time weren't," Meir said. "That was really difficult to comprehend."




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Aquarium asks public to FaceTime shy eels under lockdown

"It seems like the spotted garden eels are getting used to a non-human environment and have forgotten about people."




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NASA's big SpaceX launch is just weeks away — and it's taking no chances with the coronavirus

NASA is asking people to refrain from traveling to the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, to witness the historic launch May 27.




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2020 Eta Aquarid meteor shower: How to see 'crumbs' of Comet Halley rain on Earth

The skywatching event lasts about a week, with the best views arriving before dawn on Tuesday.




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May's Flower Moon: How to see the last supermoon of 2020

The name of this month's full moon comes from the blooms that appear in North America around this time of year.




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Researchers watch as virus meets warm weather

"It is important that individuals still do what they can to protect themselves and others," said Emory University health expert Robert A. Bednarczyk.




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Do You Have The Right Skillset To Succeed In The eLearning Industry?

Working in the training and eLearning industry for close to 10 years and at a few companies, I am writing to share my experience and […]

The post Do You Have The Right Skillset To Succeed In The eLearning Industry? appeared first on e-Learning Feeds.




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7 Tips To Accurately Calculate eLearning Content Development Costs For Your Employee Online Training

Crunching numbers is one of the most dreaded aspects of eLearning outsourcing, but these 7 tips can help you calculate eLearning content development costs for […]

The post 7 Tips To Accurately Calculate eLearning Content Development Costs For Your Employee Online Training appeared first on e-Learning Feeds.





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This Week in Apps: WWDC goes online, Android 11 delays, Facebook SDK turns into app kill switch

We continue to look at how the coronavirus outbreak is impacting mobile apps; that big app crash caused by Facebook; new app releases from Facebook and Google; and Apple's plans to move WWDC online.




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You Won't Need to Buy These Games Twice With Xbox Series X Smart Delivery

See the list of all games you can buy for Xbox One and get a free copy for the Xbox Series X.




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Hollywood Punks and Hippie Scientists: New VOD Movies to Stream This Weekend

How are musical Valley Girl remake, Clark Duke's Arkansas, and Spaceship Earth? Here are our reviews.




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Keep Your Data Backed up and Secure Wtih the Best NAS Devices

Ever wanted a hard drive you could access from anywhere? Well Network-Attached Storage might be just right for you!




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Kristen Wiig is This Week's SNL at Home Surprise Host

The SNL alum belted out a quirky tribute to moms.