Kabul, Afghanistan                                                                                                                                                                            22 May 2018                                                                                                                                                                                        (Anadolu News)

Turkey and Afghanistan on Tuesday launched an air corridor to boost bilateral trade.

Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce Humayoon Rasaw, Minister of Agriculture Nasir Ahmad Durrani, Turkish Ambassador to Kabul Oguzhan Ertugrul and Turkey’s flag carrier Turkish Airlines’ Kabul Manager, Ahmet Uludag attended the opening ceremony at Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Speaking at the event, Rasaw said Afghanistan wants to increase trade cooperation with Turkey and that his country will provide convenience to Turkish businesspeople.

Pointing that the trade volume between the two countries will increase following the opening of air corridor between Istanbul and Kabul, Rasaw said: “A total of 15 tons of goods including dried fruit and carpets will be sent with today’s first flight with Turkish Airlines.”

For his part, Turkish ambassador stressed the close relations between Turkey and Afghanistan date back a long way and the ties gained strength during the term of Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and Amanullah Khan in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan has already launched aerial trade corridor with India and Kazakhstan.

Islamabad                                                                                                                                                                                            22 May 2018                                                                                                                                                                                        (APP)

The Federal Cabinet Tuesday approved the placement of draft constitutional amendment before the Parliament for the merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chaired the Federal Cabinet meeting held here at PM Office.

The cabinet was informed that Gilgit-Baltistan Council would be retained as advisory body towards the functions of the Federal Government.

It was also informed that with the devolution of greater administrative and financial powers to the Government of Gilgit-Balitistan, all the rights would be available to the citizens in GB as available to the people in other provinces of Pakistan.

The meeting ratified the decisions of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet taken during its meetings held on May 8 and May 11, 2018.

The decisions of the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) taken during its meeting on October 12, 2017 were also ratified.

The Federal Cabinet ratified the agreement between Pakistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina on cooperation in the sphere of Defence Industry.

It approved signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Board of Investment, Government of Pakistan and Business France.

The cabinet also approved signing of an MoU between Educational Scientific Productive Complex International of Kyrgyzstan and Allama Iqbal Open University of Pakistan in the field of distance education.

It approved appointment of Ashtar Abbas, D&SJ (District and Sessions Judge) as Judge, Banking Court-IV, Lahore.

The cabinet approved repatriation of Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Judge Banking Court-IV Karachi to High Court of Sindh. Ijlal Hyder Memon, D&SJ Tando Muhammad Khan, has been appointed in his place.

The cabinet approved extension in the tenure of Obaid Ahmed Khan, D&SJ as Special Court (Control of Narcotics Substance-II) Karachi for a further period of two years w.e.f. May 7, 2018.

Appointment of Justice (Retd) Ch Shahid Saeed as Chairman of Copyright Board in IPO-Pakistan was approved.

The meeting approved re-constitution of the Board of Directors of Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) and also granted ex-post facto approval for the appointment of Chairman, PNSC, Karachi.

Maximum retail prices of drugs were also approved during the meeting.

A proposal for inclusion of various items in the Compulsory Certification Mark Scheme of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) was also approved.

The cabinet also approved Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) Gas (Third Party Access) Rules, 2018.

The meeting approved National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Policy.

The Federal Cabinet also approved Digital Pakistan Policy.

The cabinet approved signing of an agreement for provision of Grant Facility for USD 14 million to Somalia.

It also approved a proposal for creation of Jinnah Visiting Professorship at London School of Economics.

Reconstitution of Board of Directors, Pakistan Expo Centres (Pvt) Limited was approved.

The cabinet also approved nomination of private sector members for the Board of Directors of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan.

Gardez, Herat City                                                                                                                                                                               Pajhwok, Afghanistan                                                                                                                                                                         22 May 2018                                                                                                                                                                                        (Pajhwok Afghan News/Khaama Press)

Eight policemen have been killed, five others caught alive and seven wounded as a result of Taliban attacks in Paktia and Herat provinces, officials said on Tuesday.

Six policemen were killed and five others seized by the militants in the Zurmat district of southeastern Paktia. A police officer, who wished to unnamed, told Pajhwok Afghan News the Taliban attacked security check-post in the Loi Diwal locality of the district late on Monday night.

He said six policemen were killed and five others captured alive. The Taliban militants also seized some weapons and ammunitions belonging to the security forces, the official revealed.

Hakeem Waziri, the district administrative chief, confirmed the overnight attack and said two policemen were killed. However, he had no information about the wounded.

Samiullah Seddiqi, first police district chief, said the check-post in the Ibrahimkhel locality of Gardez came under attack. At least two policemen were killed while 12 Taliban died in return fire from the security forces.

The Taliban also confirmed the clash. The group spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed four policemen were killed and three others caught alive.

In western Herat province, two policemen were killed and seven others wounded during a clash in Kashk-i-Kohna district.

Lal Mohammad Omarzai, the district’s administrative chief, said the Taliban stormed a security check-post in the Darzak locality of the district.

He said two policemen were killed and seven others wounded in the ensuing \clash. The injured security personnel are said to be in stable condition.

Abdul Ahad Walizada, the governor’s spokesman, confirmed the incident and said details would be shared with the media once an investigation into the attack was completed.

In another Taliban attack as reported by Khaama News Agency, A relatively heavy explosion rocked Kandahar city the provincial capital of Kandahar province in South of Afghanistan this afternoon.

According to the preliminary reports, the incident took place after a suicide bomber detonated a vehicle packed with explosives.

A security source in Kandahar says the incident has taken place in the vicinity of the 4th police district of the city and as a result at least two people have been killed and twenty five others have sustained injuries.

The provincial hospital officials are saying that the dead bodies of at least six people have been shifted to the hospital along with at least 30 others who have sustained injuries.

However, another source says at least 9 people have been killed and more than 30 others have sustained injuries in the attack.

Dubai                                                                                                                                                                                                     22 May 2018                                                                                                                                                                                         (Gulf News)

A Saudi passenger plane with 151 people on board made an emergency landing at King Abdul Aziz airport in Jeddah late on Monday.

The Saudi Arabia flight (SV3818) bound for Dhaka in Bangladesh from Medinah in Saudi Arabia was diverted to Jeddah after the pilot spotted an issue with the aircraft's hydraulic system.

“At around 8pm local time Monday night, the Airbus A330 flight No. SV3818 took off from Medina for Dhaka Airport in Bangladesh. Sometime after takeoff, a defect in the hydraulic system was noticed and a decision was made to divert the plane to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah,” said Abdulrahman Tayeb, a spokesman of Saudi Arabian Airlines.

The aircraft hovered above the airport for more than two hours before making the emergency landing.

The landing was successful, with a minor nose retraction as seen in a video circulating on social media. Passengers were evacuated via emergency slides and no major injuries have been reported so far.

Medical teams at the airport treated 70 passengers while four others were taken to the health centre, according to Saudi media.

Srinagar                                                                                                                                                                                                 20 May 2018                                                                                                                                                                                         (Daily Dawn)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated on Saturday a hydroelectric power plant in India-held Jammu and Kashmir, amid protests from Pakistan.

The 330-megawatt Kisha­nganga hydropower station is one of the projects that India has fast-tracked in the disputed Himalayan region amid frosty ties between the two countries.

“This region cannot only become self-sufficient in power but also produce for other regions of the country,” Modi said in Srinagar. “Keeping that in mind we have been working on various projects here in the past four years.”

Pakistan has opposed some of these projects, saying they violate a World Bank-mediated treaty on the sharing of waters from the Indus and its tributaries upon which 80 per cent of its irrigated agriculture depends.

“Pakistan is seriously concerned about the inauguration [of the Kishan­ganga plant],” its foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday. Modi, who was on a daylong visit to the region, also flagged off the construction of the 14-kilometre-long Zojila tunnel, which would provide all-weather connectivity between the cities of Srinagar, Kargil and Leh.

The government said it would be the longest road tunnel in India and Asia’s longest two-way tunnel, to be constructed at a cost of $1 billion.

Shutdown

India-held Kashmir, meanwhile, came to a virtual standstill as groups opposed to Indian control over the region called for a shutdown to protest Modi’s visit.

Shops shut and streets in Srinagar were empty except for police and paramilitary patrols as authorities imposed maximum security for the one-day visit.

Authorities cut mobile internet services in the disputed region and ordered a curfew in parts of Srinagar.

They closed schools, colleges and universities for the day to stop any student protest. The main venue for Modi’s visit to Srinagar, the Dal Lake tourist attraction, was declared out of bounds for the public.

Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                      20 May 2018                                                                                                                                                                                        (Daily Qatar Tribune)

VARIOUS Filipino community groups took to Qatar streets to distribute iftar packs to motorists during an iftar campaign held on Friday.

More than a thousand iftar packs were handed over during the campaign led by Republika Supremo International Organization as part of its annual community service programme.

The activity demonstrated the spirit of unity, work and cooperation practised by Filipinos as part of their traditional values.
"This is the second year that we organised this campaign as our way of showing respect to our Muslim brothers and sisters who are observing the Holy Month of Ramadan. As usual, it brings us joy to see and hear the appreciation of the motorists to our simple gesture," said Pascual JC Castro, Republika Supremo president.
Around 20 various community organisations under the umbrella of United Filipino Organizations in Qatar (UFOQ) contributed to the campaign and participated in the distribution of the iftar packs.

The iftar packs include bottled water, juice packs, biscuits, dates and other snacks. Castro said the campaign was intended to ensure that motorists who are fasting will be able to break their fast on time without the need to rush to their destinations.

Castro also urged more groups to organise similar activity which has been a tradition in the community on this very important time.
"We hope more community groups and other organisations will be able to put together an iftar campaign. Let us observe the important traditions during this Holy Month," the leader said.

The other community groups which participated in the iftar drive were Bayanihan ng Manggagawa ng Konstruksyon sa Qatar, Qatar-Pilipino Helping Hand, The Filipino Community, Kapuso, Kabisig, Qatar OFW Tambayan ng Pinoy at Pinay, Ang Munting Tambayan, Elite Qatar, Qatar Fitness Squad, RCB, Brethren, PSSP, BBFQ, OFW Barkadahan, Kampi, Jerry's Angel, NGG, My Day and OFW Katamdamay.

Imus City, Cavite                                                                                                                                                                                20 May 2018                                                                                                                                                                                        (PNA)

A portion of the Imus Flyover under construction, which spans the Daang Hari and Aguinaldo Highway just next to the Ayala District Mall here, collapsed early Sunday morning.

The Imus Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (IDRRMO) reported that no one was hurt in the incident although the collapsed beams pinned down the project contractor’s gilder beam truck, another heavy equipment and a motorcycle.

According to a witness, 51-year-old fisherman Mang Anselmo, he was driving his tricycle loaded with fish for delivery to the public market about 30 minutes past midnight of Saturday, when the beam structures of the flyover under construction collapsed.

"It was a miracle, thankfully there was a traffic enforcer who directed motorists and passersby not to cross the area, otherwise, they would have been crushed to death by the collapsing bridge and it sounded like an explosion,” Mang Anselmo said, adding that there was a commotion and people near the area were shouting.

Other witnesses said the drivers of the two trailer trucks under the flyover construction site were quick to scamper to safety as the beams gave way.

Construction workers of JBL Builders, one of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) contractors, told the Philippine News Agency that around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, they were placing and lifting the portion of the beams using the crane to be connected to the supporting concrete column when the beams suddenly detached one by one and fell to the ground.

The incident also caused heavy traffic in the area as the Imus City Traffic Management Team diverted the Manila to Dasmariñas, Tagaytay, Silang, General Trias and Batangas-bound vehicles to DC Ilano Boulevard and other side streets due to the collapsed structures and concrete debris scattered all over the highway.

The Cavite police, local construction engineers, officials, and ambulances were on standby as city traffic enforcers supervised the traffic.

Meanwhile, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Cavite South Engineering District Engr. Sagosaya Capal said they had dispatched additional workers and brought in five girders and cranes to the site to help in the speedy relocation of the disconnected concrete parts of the highway.

He said initial findings showed that the girder truck gave way as construction workers using the crane were lifting the fifth and sixth concrete cemented portion to be connected to the flyover, thus triggering the beams to collapse.

He added that the JBL workers are now fixing the collapsed structures as bulldozers swept through the scattered concrete debris and clear the highway.

The Imus local crisis management team also assured that the contractor and DPWH teams would be able to clear the debris spilled into the highway so that the area would be passable to traffic by Monday morning.

The Imus City flyover is part of the four-lane, 45.292-kilometer Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) which spans from the CAVITEX in Kawit, Cavite to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX)-Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan City, Laguna.

Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                      20 May 2018

Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of State of Qatar met on Sunday with Eric Chevallier, Ambassador of the French Republic to Qatar , Ajay Sharma, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Qatar , and Hans-Udo Muzel, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Qatar .

The meeting discussed a number of regional issues, as well as matters of joint interest.

Texas                                                                                                                                                                                                  19 May 2018                                                                                                                                                                              (BBC)

London                                                                                                                                                                                                 19 May 2018                                                                                                                                                                                          (BBC)

An emotional-looking prince and his smiling bride exchanged vows and rings before the Queen and 600 guests at St George's Chapel.

Ms Markle, wearing a white boat-neck dress by British designer Clare Waight Keller, was walked down the aisle by Prince Charles.

At the altar, Prince Harry told her: "You look amazing."

Now married, the couple will be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

The guests, many of them A-listers, included Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, David and Victoria Beckham and Sir Elton John, who later performed at the wedding reception.

Ms Markle's sculpted dress was designed by Ms Waight Keller for French fashion house Givenchy.

Most striking was a diamond bandeau tiara, loaned to her by the Queen, and a trailing five-metre silk veil embroidered with the flowers of each country in the Commonwealth.

Prince Harry and his brother and best man, the Duke of Cambridge, wore the frockcoat uniform of the Blues and Royals.

He was given special permission from the Queen to keep his short beard as it is customary to be clean-shaven when dressed in Army uniform.

Their 10 young bridesmaids and pageboys - including Prince George and Princess Charlotte - rose to the occasion.

However, the excitement became too much for one of the younger ones who started crying just before Ms Markle entered the chapel.

Prince Charles walked Ms. Markle down the aisle. after her father, Thomas, was unable to attend for health reasons.

Mr Markle, 73, reportedly watched the ceremony from California.

He told th US celebrity website, TMZ: "My baby looks beautiful and she looks very happy."

Ms Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, stayed with her daughter overnight before accompanying her to the chapel.

Dressed in a pale green Oscar de la Renta dress, with a neat hat, an emotional-looking Ms Ragland sat alone on the bride's side of the chapel for some time.

As the witnesses were called away to sign the register, Ms Ragland appeared to accept an outstretched hand from Prince Charles with some relief.

In her vows, Ms Markle did not promise to "obey" her husband, while the prince has broken with royal tradition by choosing to wear a wedding ring.

Prince Harry's ring is a platinum band with a textured finish and Ms Markle's has been made from a piece of Welsh gold.

Lady Jane Fellowes, the sister of Prince Harry's late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, gave a reading from the Song of Solomon.

Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir performed Ben E King's soul classic Stand By Me during the service.

As the bride and groom signed the register, 19-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason - who won the 2016 BBC's Young Musician - performed three pieces by Faure, Schubert and Maria Theresia von Paradis.

He was accompanied by musicians from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the English Chamber Orchestra and the Philharmonia.

The gospel choir also performed Etta James' uplifting version of Amen/This Little Light of Mine as the newlyweds left the chapel.

After the service, the duke and duchess travelled through Windsor along a route lined by tens of thousands of well-wishers.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead said more than 100,000 people visited the town on Saturday.