A lot of the movies that I do have selfish, flawed characters: Saif Ali Khan

Saif opens up about his equation with Bollywood megastar Salman Khan. PHOTO: SANTABANTA

Rivalry between Bollywood's three big Khans — Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir — has become a thing of the past, but there's a younger Khan whose friendship with Salman is still not the same. It's Saif Ali Khan.

While they may still have their differences, Salman did not forget to invite the Phantom actor to a special screening of Bajrangi Bhaijaan.

In an interview with Times of India, Saif spoke about how the two actors drifted apart in spite of having worked together in the past. When asked whether he was invited to the special screening because Kareena is in the film, the actor denied the notion.

"I hope not," he answered. "Salman, I know, would not do anything just for the sake of it. I have known him longer than I have known Kareena. So I would hope that our equation is not dependent on her and I felt very nice about it."

Read: Salman carries Kareena's photo in his phone and you won't believe which one it is!

"I have always had the highest respect and love for Salman. I hadn't spoken to him for the longest time and was very happy to hear from him," the actor disclosed.

PHOTO: MAGLOI

The actor thoroughly enjoyed the film, which seems to have left an impact on him because he feels "Salman's character defined what an Indian hero is" as compared to his "selfish, flat roles".

Read: Saif Ali Khan worried as he becomes face of 'anti-Pakistan feeling'

"I loved it. I feel people involved in it are lucky. If you are going to spend time making a movie, it might as well be a movie that relates to the subcontinent and not just cities. A lot of the movies that I do have selfish, flawed characters that relate to a niche audience. Salman's character in Bajrangi Bhaijaan is what an Indian hero is, and this is the kind of movie an Indian hero should do," Saif said, praising the megastar and his film.

He also talked about how heroic Salman's character is in Bajrangi Bhaijaan and the positive impact it has had on India and Pakistan. "It's a hard life for most people and what makes a hero is a guy who has a song on his lips, is kind and selfless, willing to go out of his way to help somebody else," he said.

"It's a huge contribution to the general psyche of the country as it's progressive and talks about not just peace with Pakistan but the treatment of religion even within India. It's done lightly and beautifully and really is a combination of Kabir and Salman's genius of selecting and realising that," the actor added.

Saif and Salman may not be as close as they were in the past but Saif still "looks up to" him. He shares how them drifting apart has not changed that.

PHOTO: MASALA

"He is someone I have known for a very long time and was the No.1 star when I had thought of joining movies. He is someone I just respect and look up to. I will always look up to him for many reasons. Public reasons, private reasons," he said.

Read: I don't behave like a star: Salman Khan

"We have done films and shows together. Over time, there have been some differences that have come up, which him and I best know about and that will always remain between him and I only," said Saif without revealing the reason.

"He is someone I have worked with, spent a lot of time with and he is someone I greatly admire as a brother. And that will never change," he said.

September 18, 2015 at 12:36PM
Source/Credit: The Express Tribune

Pakistan can emulate Aus-NZ like success against England: Waqar Younis

Head coach says spinne­rs will play key role in testin­g the Englis­h batsme­n

PHOTO: AFP

Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis expressed confidence that the team is able enough to beat England in the upcoming three-match Test series in the UAE.

Bowling great also said that spinners will play a key role in testing the English batsmen.

"More than the limited over series in Zimbabwe, we are totally focused on the Test matches against England," said Waqar, while talking to a local sports channel.

Read: Beating Pakistan in UAE is a big challenge, says Brendon McCullum

"It is a very important series for us and I just want the team to repeat the form they showed against Australia and New Zealand last year," he added, as quoted by NDTV.

The 43-year-old said that Pakistan had a stable and balanced Test squad.

"I am confident we can win this series (against England) if we play the way we did against Australia and New Zealand. Our players are used to the pitches in UAE and if we look at the number of centuries scored by Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq or Azhar Ali in Tests I think we can do well," he said.

Waqar commented on the absence of off-spinner Saeed Ajmal saying that leggie Yasir Shan and left-hand spinner Zulfiqar Babar can be counted upon.

Read: Wahab makes comeback, Ajmal misses cut in all formats

"I think our spinners particularly Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar have done very well in recent matches and we are counting on them to repeat their form as well. And they have played Tests against England. But we also have two young spinners to back them up in case of any eventuality," he said.

Zafar Gohar or Muhammad Asghar, both left-arm spinners, were included in the Pakistan A squad and one will make it to the squad as the 16th player.

"I think our spin resources are more than adequate and the pitches there will assist them. Dubai is a bit different but we also have dependable resources in the pace department as well," said Waqar.

Read: England announce squads for Pakistan series in UAE

Waqar also commended England's recent win against Australia and praised country's new pool of players.

"They have some quality players but I think conditions in the UAE are different for them while for our players it is like a second home since we have not been able to play in Pakistan," he said.

September 18, 2015 at 12:19PM
Source/Credit: The Express Tribune

Fed rate decision lifts Asia markets, emerging currencies

The Fed's decisi­on follow­ed widesp­read warnin­gs about the dire impact a rate increa­se could have

PHOTO: REUTERS

HONG KONG: The US central bank's decision to hold off hiking interest rates sent emerging market currencies and most Asian markets advancing Friday, as concerns eased over an outflow of cash as the global economy suffers a painful slowdown.

After one of the most eagerly awaited meetings in years, the US central bank's head Janet Yellen said the ongoing crisis in China and recent turmoil on world markets had played a role in keeping borrowing costs at zero.

Read: KSE-100 Index plunges by 1,000 points over anti-corruption crackdown fears

The Fed's decision followed widespread warnings about the dire impact a rate increase could have, with the World Bank predicting this week it would cause a "perfect storm" in financial markets.

It also came despite a string of data in recent months showing the US economy, the world's biggest is well on track to recovery.

Yellen told a news conference: "A lot of our focus has been on risks around China, but not just China, emerging markets more generally and how they may spill over to the United States.

"We've seen significant outflows of capital from those countries, pressures on their exchange rates and concerns about their performance going forward," Yellen said of the emerging market economies.

"The question is whether or not there might be a risk of a more abrupt slowdown than most analysts expect."

The news pushed the dollar lower. It was buying 119.80 yen in Tokyo  trade, compared with 120.90 yen in Asia Thursday. The euro was at $1.1403 against $1.1302 a day earlier.

Struggling emerging market currencies, which have been rising this week on hopes the bank would hold fire, were also higher. The South Korea won added 0.27 percent, the Malaysian ringgit gained 0.50 percent, India's rupee was 0.82 percent higher and the Singapore dollar was up 0.06 percent.

"For emerging-market central bankers, the Fed has given them some much-needed breathing room," said Jonathan Lewis, a principal at New York-based Samson Capital Advisors LLC.

"Postponing a Fed tightening gives these central bankers room to be more accommodative, without their actions being offset by a tighter Fed," he added, according to Bloomberg News.

Economists had warned a rise now could severely hurt emerging economies as investors would likely withdraw more cash to the United States for better and safer returns.

This, in turn, would have forced other central banks to hike rates — at the same time as trying to foster growth — in a bid to support their currencies and prevent a flight of capital.

However, analysts pointed out that the uncertainty of when rates will rise could be as damaging to emerging markets as an actual lift off. There is now increasing talk the Fed could wait until 2016 before moving.

Most Asian stock markets advanced with Shanghai ending 0.38 percent higher at the end of another roller-coaster week, while Seoul put on almost one percent and Sydney ticked up 0.46 percent.

Hong Kong was 0.17 percent higher in late trade.

However, Tokyo finished almost two percent lower with investors spooked by Yellen's downbeat assessment of the global outlook while exporters were also hurt by the stronger yen.

The comments also weighed on US stocks, with the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all ending in negative territory.

Matt Maley, an equity strategist at Miller Tabak & Co LLC in New York, said that with the decision now out of the way, traders "are going to start focusing more on the problems that caused the correction in August, which is weakness in China and other emerging markets and a rough time on the earnings front".

Read: China stock plunge smacks global shares, US stocks dive

World markets have witnessed more than a month of wild volatility after China devalued its yuan currency, fuelling worries about the state of the world's number-two economy and main driver of global growth as well as its leaders' crisis control.

The concerns have been exacerbated by a series of weak indicators suggesting growth will come in this year lower than 2014, which was the worst performance in a quarter of a century.

Shanghai reflected the uncertainty surrounding the Chinese economy, with shares seeing wild swings over the week — it fell around six percent over Monday and Tuesday, jumped almost five percent Wednesday and slipped heavily again Thursday.

The index surged more than 150 percent in a year before hitting a June 12 high, since when it has plunged about 40 percent on fears about high prices and the state of the Chinese economy.

September 18, 2015 at 12:43PM
Source/Credit: The Express Tribune

Trump considers getting ‘rid of’ Muslims when president

Trump says Obama is waging a war agains­t Christ­ians and that they need suppor­t in this countr­y

Donald Trump said he would consider one man's request that America "get rid of" Muslims. PHOTO: REUTERS

In a shocking statement, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said he would consider one man's request that America "get rid of" Muslims.

At a town hall meeting in New Hampshire earlier this week, a man asked Trump, "We have training camps growing where they want to kill us. That's my question, when can we get rid of them?"

Read: 29% of Americans believe Obama is Muslim: poll

"We're going to be looking at a lot of different things.  A lot of people are saying that, and a lot of people are saying that bad things are happening out there. We're going to be looking at that and plenty of other things," Trump responded.

Trump had also agreed with the man when he had stated that Muslims were a problem in the US and that President Barack Obama was himself a Muslim and 'not even American'.

"We have a problem in this country," he began. "It's called Muslims. We know our current president is one," the man said.

"Right," Trump responded.

"You know he's not even American," the man continued.

"We need this question, this is the first question," Trump said with a laugh.

President Obama is a Christian and was born in Hawaii. He had also issued a certified long-form birth certificate in April 2011, showing he was born at Honolulu's Kapiolani Hospital on August 4, 1961.

However, Trump has for years raised questions about Obama's nationality and religion, claiming he was born in Kenya and was not eligible to hold presidential office.

Read: "Dry it out and destroy it": Why Pakistan should be wary of Donald Trump

Later, speaking to the Washington Post, Trump said his answers were more about defending Christians in the US because their 'religious liberty is at stake'. He further said that, "The media wants to make this issue about Obama. The bigger issue is that Obama is waging a war against Christians…Christians need support in this country."

Trump's statements are in stark contrast to the then Republican presidential candidate John McCain's response, at a town hall in Minnesota in 2008, when a woman said that Obama was "an Arab" who couldn't be trusted in the White House.

Seizing the microphone, McCain had replied, "No ma'am. He's a decent family man — citizen — that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that's what this campaign's all about."

This article originally appeared on Buzzfeed

Read more: Barack Obama , Donald Trump , US

September 18, 2015 at 12:21PM
Source/Credit: The Express Tribune

Three dead, 14 wounded in Thai south motorcycle bomb

Since 2004 more than 6,400 people have been killed in kingdo­m's Muslim-majori­ty southe­rn provin­ces

PHOTO: AFP/FILE

BANGKOK: Three people were killed and 14 wounded by a motorcycle bomb blast in Thailand's deep south, officials said on Friday, in the latest deadly attack to strike the war-torn region.

Since 2004 more than 6,400 people have been killed, the majority civilians, in the kingdom's Muslim-majority southern provinces where insurgents are fighting for greater autonomy.

The blast on Thursday evening struck near a grocery shop in the Rangae district of southernmost Narathiwat province, which borders Malaysia.

An army official and two civilians — a man and a woman — were killed in the attack as a series of other bombs also went off in the area without any casualties, district police commander Phakdi Preechachol told AFP.

"The most devastated location was the site of the motorcycle bomb, all the casualties were from this spot," he said.

Among the wounded is a ranger who had a leg amputated following the attack, the commander added, while four others who sustained injuries have already been discharged from hospital.

Investigations are under way to find out who was behind the attack.

The lush, forested deep south was an ethnic Malay sultanate until Buddhist-majority Thailand annexed it more than a century ago.

Thai security forces stand accused of perpetrating severe rights abuses, including arbitrary arrests and extra-judicial killings, as well as stifling the distinctive local culture through clumsy — and often forced — assimilation schemes.

Meanwhile the ethnic Malay Muslim rebels have conducted near-daily ambushes or bombings on security forces and terrorised civilians seen as sympathetic to the state — both Buddhist and Muslim — with assassinations and arson attacks.

Thailand's ruling junta says it wants peace and has made initial contacts with rebel leaders ahead of formal talks.

But observers say on-going political uncertainty in Bangkok, where the military seized power from an elected government last May, is likely to deter the rebels from committing to anything substantial.

September 18, 2015 at 12:26PM
Source/Credit: The Express Tribune

Tackling crime or curbing speech: Parliamentary panel passes cybercrime bill

Reservations of members ignored over controversial legislation. CREATIVE COMMONS

ISLAMABAD: 

A parliamentary panel on Thursday cleared the controversial cybercrime bill amid complaints from many members that their reservations had been ignored. The bill, if approved by the Aational Assembly, could restrict speech and liberties online.

National Assembly's Standing Committee on Information Technology approved the Cyber Crimes Bill 2015 for a second time after lightly amending some clauses.

"This [Cyber Crime] bill looks to curb freedom of speech—look at section 34 of this bill, it gives unfettered power to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) —we will oppose this legislation (on the assembly floor) if our recommendations not incorporated," warned Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA Shazia Marri during Thursday's meeting.

She was not alone in complaining.

"Why wasn't a copy of this bill circulated among (committee's) members?" Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Dawar Kundi asked. He criticised the government for wanting to pass a critical piece of legislation in haste by limiting access of experts from NGOs, media, internet service providers and members of civil society.

However, Kundi said he had extended his support to the bill since he wanted to debate it on the floor of the assembly.

While members of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) largely ignored arguments from opposition members, they were stunned when PML-N's Awais Leghari too complained that he had not received a copy of the bill.

The panel's chairman Captain (retd) Safdar though convinced members to pass the bill so that it can be debated in the assembly, a larger platform.

"We welcome productive criticism, but it does not mean that we show leniency to help our armed forces fight the war against terror," observed Capt Safdar, before hinting at including an independent agency in the final draft of the bill.

MNA Talal Chaudhry believed that the bill would be helpful for PTA and the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) whose powers under the proposed bill would be extended.

Hear the people's voices

After the bill was disputed by rights groups and industry experts, National Assembly Speaker had formed a sub-committee of the panel headed by Leghari to hold a public hearing.

Leghari claimed that up to 500 people had provided their input during a public hearing at the Parliament House.  Digital rights activist Farieha Aziz though disputed that claim, noting that selective people were allowed at the solitary public hearing.

"Majority of the people were not allowed to participate in this meeting," she told The Express Tribune.

What the bill entails

Sections 17 and 18: Political criticism and political expression in the form of analysis, commentary, blogs and cartoons, caricatures, memes, has been criminalised.

Section 19: Any person who tests system security will be an offender

Section 20: Obscene' or 'immoral' messages on Facebook, Twitter, and other social platforms, have been made offences without defining obscenity or immorality; thus giving sweeping powers to investigating agencies to implicate anyone on these charges.

Section 21: Sending an email or message without the recipient's permission will become an offence.

Section 26: The definition of ISPs and telcos has been expanded to now include any place that offers the public access to internet, i.e. restaurants, malls, hotels, offices, airports, stations.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th,  2015.

Read more: Cybercrime bill

September 18, 2015 at 05:54AM
Source/Credit: The Express Tribune

Outgoing us ambassador: Olson pays farewell call to PM

Olson was appoin­ted as ambass­ador to Pakist­an in 2012 after Camero­n Munter resign­ed from the office

ISLAMABAD: The US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson paid a farewell call on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday. Olson also called on Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar. US President Barack Obama has nominated David Hale as new ambassador to Pakistan. Olson was appointed as ambassador to Pakistan in 2012 after Cameron Munter resigned from the office as a result of tense relations between Washington and Islamabad following US raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th,  2015.

September 18, 2015 at 05:56AM
Source/Credit: The Express Tribune

Terror bid foiled : Suicide attack plotter arrested in Karachi

the accuse­d plotte­d a major attack on Kamra by dispat­ching two suicid­e bomber­s

PHOTO:EPA

KARACHI: 

Police claimed on Thursday to have foiled an Eidul Azha terror bid in the city by arresting a top plotter of suicide blasts known to have brainwashed youths in carrying out attacks on various government and defence installations.

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) said it has arrested the Karachi boss of Tehreek-e-Imaraat-e-Islamia Afghanistan from Orangi Town. According to the CTD officials, Omar Hayat alias Mavia Darwesh, was arrested during an intelligence based raid. Two suicide jackets and two bombs were also recovered from his possession. Darwesh was planning a suicide attack on Eidul Azha prayers, CTD SSP Junaid Shaikh told the media. "He had finalised plans for carrying out the attack when we arrested him," he explained.

According to SSP Shaikh, "Darwesh is a mastermind of preparing youth for suicide bombings."

Recently, the accused plotted a major attack on Kamra by dispatching two suicide bombers who aborted the mission due to strict surveillance by security forces, he said.  The accused has also been involved in attacks on security forces in tribal areas where he killed at least 15 soldiers of the Pakistan army.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th,  2015.

Read more: Terror Bid Foiled

September 18, 2015 at 05:56AM
Source/Credit: The Express Tribune

Promoting literature: CM Malik urges activists to read

QUETTA: Balochistan CM Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has said that youth and political activists must develop reading habit, as literature has unique quality of infusing wisdom. "The 21st century is the epoch of knowledge and technology. We have no other option but to get education and make progress," he said. Dr Malik was speaking at the launch of a book titled History in the Context of Terminologies by Abdul Manan, a leader of National Party at Quetta Press Club on Thursday. "Read books to get education instead of only chanting slogans," he told the young political workers urging them to develop intellect.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th,  2015.

Read more: Balochistan CM

September 18, 2015 at 05:55AM
Source/Credit: The Express Tribune

Senate proceedings: Pakistan may share dossier on Indian meddling at UNGA

Islama­bad ready for second round of talks betwee­n Afghan govern­ment and Taliba­n, Sartaj Aziz tells senato­rs

Islamabad ready for second round of talks between Afghan government and Taliban, Sartaj Aziz tells senators. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: 

For the first time, Pakistan may present evidence of Indian interference in the country at the annual session of United Nations General Assembly in New York.

"We have prepared a dossier on Indian interference … India accuses Pakistani non-state actors (of interfering) but here Indian state actors are interfering in Pakistan," the Prime Minister's Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz told the Senate on Thursday.

However, Aziz said that they had yet to decide on the time and place to present it.

While the Foreign Office spokesperson announced on Thursday that Nawaz Sharif was expected to address the UNGA on September 30, the adviser hinted that Nawaz may speak at select events.

During his visit to New York, the prime minister is expected to co-host a UN Peacekeeping Summit along with some other leaders since Pakistan is one of the largest troop contributors to UN peacekeeping operations. Nawaz is also expected to attend a roundtable on South-South Cooperation.

Asked about a potential meeting with Indian premier Naerandra Modi on the sidelines of UNGA, the advisor reiterated that Pakistan "will not take any initiative."

"India, which cancelled the national security advisor-level talks, would have to take the initiative," Aziz said, adding that talks will focus on all outstanding issues including Kashmir and how the Shimla Agreement had failed to achieve any progress.

Asked about the resumption of cross-border attacks by India just a week after meetings between Pakistan Rangers and India's Border Security Force, Aziz said India uses the pretext of fenced and heavily monitored border being breached by militants for the shelling. In this regard, Pakistan's representative at the UN will ask the UNSC to take notice of these violations

He added that this year's UNGA was special since the world body was celebrating its 70th anniversary with around 150 heads of state or government expected to participate.

In addition to talking about India and Kashmir, Aziz said Pakistan will present its case on converting Sustainable Development Goals into national goals.

Ties with Afghanistan

Responding to a question on ties with Afghanistan, the advisor said that Pakistan had no 'favorites'. Rather, it was carrying out an operation in Waziristan without any discrimination.

On the Afghan reconciliation process, Aziz said Pakistan could try for a second round of talks but could not guarantee it.

He dispelled notions that bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan had suffered due to recent tensions.

Aziz also backed a suggestion by Senator Usman Kakar that foreign policy should be decided by the parliament.

Opposition stages walkout

The opposition, which had demanded the briefing on foreign affairs, staged a token walkout to protest its quality.

Leader of the Opposition Aitzaz Ahsan termed it as the "most disappointing briefing," as he led the walkout.

Meanwhile, Chairman Raza Rabbani directed Auditor General to conduct special audit, in four months, about the funds received and spent after 2005 earthquake from local and international donors .Standing committee on Cabinet was asked to compile a detailed report on rehabilitation.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th,  2015.

Read more: Senate proceedings

September 18, 2015 at 05:54AM
Source/Credit: The Express Tribune