PAK PRESIDENT SIGNS BILL TO MERGE KHYBERPAKHTUNKHWA, TRIBAL AREAS

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday signed a constitutional amendment bill to merge the restive tribal region along the Afghan border with the northwestern province of Khyber-pakhtunkhwa, bringing an end to a 150-year-old British-era arrangement. The bill was passed by the National Assembly, the Senate and KP assembly before being sent to the president for formal approval. After signing the bill, the president congratulated the people of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber-pakhtunkhwa, Geo TV reported. The bill amends several Articles of the Constitution including Article 1 that defines the territory of Pakistani federation.

Japan whale hunt killed 122 pregnant minkes

TOKYO: Japan killed 122 pregnant minke whales during a highly controversial annual whaling expedition that Tokyo defends as scientific research but conservationists call “gruesome and unnecessary”. The four-month expedition in the Antarctic ended in March after the fleet killed 333 minke whales, a report submitted by Japanese authorities to the International Whaling Commission last month said.

Taliban, Afghan officials in ceasefire talks: US general

WASHINGTON: Taliban officials have been secretly negotiating with Afghan officials on a possible ceasefire, the Pentagon said on Wednesday, even as US forces killed over 50 Taliban leaders in a series of strikes. “A lot of the diplomatic activity and dialogue is occurring off the stage, and it’s occurring at multiple levels,” Gen John Nicholson said. He would not identify the figures involved in the negotiations, except to say that they included mid- and senior-level Taliban officials.

Denmark bans the wearing of face veils in public

COPENHAGEN: Denmark has banned the wearing of face veils in public, joining France and other parts of Europe in outlawing the burqa and the niqab worn by some Muslim women. Parliament voted on Thursday for the law proposed by the centre-right government which said face veils were contrary to Danish values. Opponents say the ban, that comes into effect on August 1 infringes women’s right to dress as they choose. REUTERS

Sri Lanka releases map with Chinabacked projects

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Thursday released its new map by incorporating major development projects undertaken in the island country over the past few years, including the Chinese built port city and the strategically-important Hambantota port. The new map, released after nearly 20 years, incorporates the changes made in the country’s landscape due to the under construction port city project in Colombo and the port in Hambantota.