NAROWAL, Jan 04 (APP):The anti-polio campaign will continue in Narowal district from 8th to 12th January.
During the campaign, 370,912 children under five years of age will be administered vaccine for which a total of 1292 teams will perform duty.
According to a handout, Deputy Commissioner Hassan Raza directed the officers concerned to use all available resources to make the campaign 100 per cent successful. In this regard, implementation should be carried out according to the micro plan so that previous drawbacks and weaknesses can be removed 100pc.
Anti-polio campaign from January 8-12
Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar remembered on his death anniversary
ISLAMABAD, Jan 4 (APP): The 93rd death anniversary of leader of Pakistan movement, educationist, journalist and a poet, Raees-ul-Ahrar Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar was observed on Thursday.
Born on 10th December 1878 in Rampur British India, he obtained education from Ali Gharh and Lincoln College Oxford.
Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar was a very strong supporter of a separate homeland Pakistan. He also played a leading role in Khilafat Movement. He was imprisoned many times due to his strong resistance against the policies of the British Raj.
He launched his famous English weekly “Comrade” from Calcutta in 1911 and his Urdu weekly “Hamdard” from Dehli in 1913.
His poetry collection was published as Deewan-e-Jauhar.
Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar died in London on this day in 1931 and was buried in Jerusalem according to his wish.
Death anniversary of classical singer Ustad Fateh Ali Khan observed
ISLAMABAD, Jan 04 (APP):Death anniversary of distinguished classical singer and one of the most celebrated vocalists belonging to the Patiala Gharana of classical music, Ustad Fateh Ali Khan was observed on Thursday.
Born in Patiala, in 1934 Ustad Fateh Ali Khan was Ustad Fateh Ali was the younger brother of the late classical singer, Ustad Amanat Ali Khan and elder brother of Ustad Hamid Ali Khan.
After independence their family moved to Lahore and Fateh Ali and Amanat Ali Khan started performing together attracting the attention of music lovers.
In 1945 they appeared for the first time on the big stage in Lahore at a concert sponsored by an influential music connoisseur, Pandit Jeevanlal Matoo. It was their performance at the All Bengal Music Conference in 1949, when Ustad Amanat was 17 and Fateh Ali was 14, that catapulted them to fame. From then on, the duo never looked back.Ustad Fateh Ali, along with his brother Ustad Amanat Ali, performed all across the world. Their classical and semi-classical singing won them countless admirers.
They went from strength to strength and received a host of awards and accolades, including the Pride of Performance Award in 1969.
As classical vocalists, the brothers had their specialised roles. Amanat Ali Khan had a gifted voice. He embellished his singing in broad sweeps by virtue of the lagao and blossoming in the upper register, while Fateh Ali Khan engaged in intricacies of countless behlawas and complex taans, in a much lower and gravelly voice, drawing inspiration from two seniors of the Patiala Gharana — Ustad Barre Ghulam Ali Khan and Ustad Ashiq Ali Khan.
A Thumri sung by the two brothers, ‘Kab aao gey’, is considered to be an all-time classic. Amanat Ali Khan composed it. The Thumri signified their invaluable contribution to classical music where they presented it in such a way that it became accessible to all segments of music lovers, including those for whom appreciating classical music was a difficult exercise.
Amanat Ali Khan’s death in 1974 shocked Fateh Ali Khan. He suffered depression for two years. Subsequently, he resumed singing and joined his younger brother Hamid Ali Khan and nephew Asad Amanat Ali. They sang thumris, dadras and ghazals and performed all over the world.
In 1992, Ustad Fateh Ali Khan collaborated with Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek. They released a CD titled ‘Ragas and Sagas’ which was very well received.
Acknowledging his contributions to field of classical music, the government of Pakistan gave him both the Pride of Performance Award and Tamgha-e-Imtiaz.
Ustad Fateh Ali died in Islamabad on January 4, 2017 and he was laid to rest in Lahore’s Mominpura graveyard.
Kashmiris to observe Right to Self-Determination Day tomorrow
ISLAMABAD, Jan 4 (APP): Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and the world over will observe Right to Self-Determination Day on Friday, tomorrow with the pledge to continue their struggle till the achievement of their internationally acknowledged inalienable right.
The call for observance of the day has been given by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.
The day will be marked by various activities including protest demonstrations, rallies, seminars and conferences in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan and in all major capitals of the world to remind the United Nations that it must implement its relevant resolutions to settle the Kashmir dispute to save the Kashmiris from the Indian brutalities.
It was on the 5th of January in 1949 when the UN Security Council passed a resolution supporting the Kashmiris’ right to decide their future by themselves under a UN-supervised plebiscite.
Dense fog creates challenging commute for capital’s residents; health hazards
ISLAMABAD, Jan 4 (APP):Dense fog blankets have created challenging commutes for the capital city like other parts of the country along with causing health hazards, especially for allergy patients in the last few days.
The unusual dense foggy conditions prevailing in the capital attributed by weather experts to lack of rain during this Winter season amid climatic changes have not only disrupted road travel but flight operations too in the fog-bearing areas of the country.
The persistent fog/smog due to the insignificant rain during this Winter season has caused diseases among the citizens especially those with allergy issues, old people and children.
According to health experts, the major sufferers of seasonal diseases especially influenza, cough and fever are the children and old ones due to their weak immune systems.
They have suggested taking those diets which can boost their immunity to fight seasonal diseases, revert to organic foods and handle such issues with home remedies.
Naheed Raza, a mother of three children who daily travels from Rawalpindi to Islamabad to attend her office, said, “Dense foggy conditions with reduced visibility is unusual for me while living in the capital for the last many years. Even I could see the visible fog after 11 am”.
“My children have suffered from prolonged sickness including influenza, cough and high fever three times during the last two months. The doctor was of the view that the virus has mutated into a dangerous one this Winter due to lack of rain so there is a need to boost the immunity of children by giving them organic food and using green tea with honey and ginger”, she said.
Keeping in view the health issues, the majority of the parents have demanded that the concerned authorities extend Winter vacations which have ended in some educational institutions or are about to end by weekend in the others.
Showing her concern, a mother of two school-going children, Shagufta Shahid said, “If the dense foggy situation persists in the coming days, the authorities must consider extension in the vacations to save the children from fog/smog and chilly weather effects”.
She said that the chilly weather due to dropping mercury will make it difficult for the kids to go to school in the coming days as the risk of catching the virus from other affected children in school still looms even if they are healthy.
Talking to APP, Director Forecasting, PMD, Irfan Virk said that dry and cold weather will continue to prevail during this week and there are no chances of significant rain in the coming days except light rain in a few parts of Balochistan.
He said that the fog patches ranging from normal to dense will continue in the plain areas of the country till the next rain.
He said that dense fog is likely to continue over the plain areas of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Upper Sindh and Islamabad during this week therefore citizens are advised to be cautious.
The PMD in its advisory has also warned that exposure to the foggy environment can cause health issues among the citizens.
The day temperatures are expected to drop 03-05 Celsius degrees in the coming days due to the foggy conditions. Very cold weather conditions are likely to prevail in fog-affected areas.
Flights, Railways and Highways/Motorways operations may be disrupted during the foggy conditions. The travelers have been advised to remain cautious during the foggy days due to the reduced visibility level and avoid unnecessary travelling during the morning and night hours.
According to the various news reports, several flights have been delayed, cancelled or diverted on Wednesday due to the low visibility amid dense fog.
The situation also led to disruption of the train service and suspension of road traffic on Motorways in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. There were about 20 to 25 domestic and international flights which were delayed, cancelled and diverted to Lahore from the Islamabad International Airport (IIAP) where visibility dropped at night.
American official resigns over US support for Israel’s ‘genocidal’ war on Gaza
WASHINGTON, Jan 04 (APP): A US Education Department official resigned on Wednesday in response to the Biden administration’s handling of the conflict in Gaza, becoming the second senior government official to step down in protest over Washington’s military support for Israel’ s campaign against the Palestinians in the enclave.
The latest sign of dissent in the administration came as Palestinian deaths continue to grow under deadly Israeli bombardments of ravaged Gaza.
Also on Wednesday, 17 Biden re-election campaign staffers issued a warning in an anonymous letter that President Joe Biden could lose voters over the issue.
Tariq Habash, special assistant in the Education Department’s Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, in a letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, said: “I cannot stay silent as this administration turns a blind eye to the atrocities committed against innocent Palestinian lives, in what leading human rights experts have called a genocidal campaign by the Israeli government.”
Habash, a Palestinian-American and an expert on student debt, was appointed early in Biden’s presidency as part of a build-out of the Education Department’s student loan expertise.
“I cannot be quietly complicit as this administration fails to leverage its influence as Israel’s strongest ally to halt the abusive and ongoing collective punishment tactics that have cut off Palestinians in Gaza from food, water, electricity, fuel, and medical supplies, leading to widespread disease and starvation,” he added.
He also pointed in the letter to the actions of the Biden administration that have put millions of innocent lives in the besieged Gaza Strip in danger.
“Today, I resigned from the Biden-Harris Administration. I cannot represent an administration that systematically dehumanizes Palestinians and enables their ethnic cleansing. The President must call for a permanent ceasefire.”
The 17 anonymous Biden re-election campaign staffers, in their letter, published on Medium, urged Biden to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Days after Israel began carrying out aerial strikes in Gaza on October 7, a senior State Department official who worked on arms transfers became the first Biden official to step down in protest.
Josh Paul, who served as a director at the department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, publicly announced his exit on LinkedIn in opposition to the provision of additional military aid to Israel.
In his resignation letter Paul wrote that he believed: “the response Israel is taking, and with it the American support both for that response, and for the status quo of the occupation, will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people — and is not in the long term American interest.”
President approves reconstitution of Islamabad Subordinate Judiciary Services Tribunal
ISLAMABAD, Jan 4 (APP):President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday approved reconstitution of the Islamabad Subordinate Judiciary Services Tribunal.
The president also approved the appointment of Islamabad High Court judge Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri as Chairman of Islamabad Subordinate Judiciary Services Tribunal.
According to a statement issued by the President House, Justice Babar Sattar and Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan would be the member of the Tribunal.
The president approved the reconstitution under section 3 of the Islamabad Subordinate Judiciary Services Tribunal Act 2016.
President Alvi approved the reconstitution of the tribunal on the advice of the Prime Minister.
OIC condemns targeting civilians in Iran bombing
JEDDAH, Jan 4 (APP): The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned the terrorist bombing in Iran that killed several civilians.
OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha, Secretary-General in a message to the Iranian government extended condolences over the death of people and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
“The OIC renews its solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran in this tragic event,” a statement from the OIC said.
Smuggled inventors, cigarettes seized
DG KHAN, Jan 04 (APP):Checkpost of Sakhi Server foiled attempt of smuggled goods worth lakhs of rupees in the district, source from DPO confirmed.
As many as 44 inverter air conditioners with three cartoon of cigarettes were seized and later handed over to the custom authority, it was said.
DPO Ahmed Mohiuddin said that checking of internal and external routes of the city was doubled down to curb smuggling. He vowed to employ all-out efforts to round up gangsters involved in the crime.
Rain washes out third session Pakistan remove Australia openers
ISLAMABAD, Jan 04 (APP): Persistent rain washed out the final session on the second day of the SCG Test after Australia managed 116-2 in 47 overs in their first-innings reply in the face of disciplined Pakistan bowling.
The players had earlier walked off due to bad light in the afternoon session, forcing an early tea break, according to information made available here by Pakistan Cricket Board.
Rain soon arrived following the interval as inclement weather meant there was no further play possible. Day three will see a 10:00 am local time start with the weather expected to be better for the rest of the match.
Australia resumed from their overnight score of six for no loss, having batted just one over on the previous day. David Warner and Usman Khawaja continued their sedate progress as Pakistan pacers Mir Hamza and Hasan Ali maintained accurate lines and lengths.
Warner, who will retire from Test cricket following this match, succumbed to the pressure when he edged a good-length ball off Aamir Jamal only to be dropped by Saim Ayub at first slip. Warner (34, 68b, 4x4s) could not capitalise on the missed chance and was later removed by a sharp spinning delivery by Salman Ali Agha, caught neatly by Babar Azam at slip.
Australia’s cautious approach continued in the second session as they scored a total of 38 runs in 17 overs for the loss of Khawaja (47, 143b, 4x4s). The Australia opener, particularly bogged down by the lack of runs, was caught down the leg-side off Aamir. The on-field umpire had initially ruled Khawaja not out but had to reverse his decision after a successful review.
Marnus Labuschagne (23 not out, 66b, 1×4) and Steven Smith (6 not out, 7b, 1×4) will restart their battle against the Pakistan bowling attack tomorrow.
Scores in brief:
Pakistan 313 all out, 77.1 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 88, Aamir Jamal 82, Salman Ali Agha 53, Shan Masood 35; Pat Cummins 5-61, Mitchell Starc 2-75, Mitchell Marsh 1-27)
Australia 116-2, 47 overs (Usman Khawaja 47, David Warner 34, Marnus Labuschagne 23 not out; Salman Ali Agha 1-18, Aamir Jamal 1-26)