Heavy fog engulfs Lahore and its surrounding areas

In various areas of Punjab, routine of life was disrupted due to heavy fog. Flight operations at Lahore Airport were cancelled and Motorway was closed for motorists due to fog; where as one person got killed and many others injured in a car accident near Hafizabad. Everyday routine of life was severely affected by heavy fog in Lahore and its surrounding areas. According to the meteorologist department, the percentage of moisture in the air was 81% at 6 pm last evening. Flights arriving from Dubai and Singapore were diverted to Karachi due to intense fog; whereas all domestic flights were also cancelled. The trains were also delayed while the traffic was also disturbed on main highways. The Motorway officials closed Lahore, Faisalabad and Sheikhupura interchanges to avoid any accident due to zero visibility in the dense fog. A person got killed and 9 others were injured due to a traffic pile-up near Kot Sarwar interchange. The meteorologist department claims that fog will continue for the next two to three days and light rain is also expected in North-Eastern part of Punjab, after which intensity of cold will increase.

Palestinians and Israelis mark anniversary of war on Gaza

Hundreds of Palestinians and Israelis marked the one year anniversary to the Israeli-led offensive on the Gaza Strip by marching, chanting slogans, waving flags and lighting candles. In the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, hundreds of Israelis and Arab Israelis marched through the city of Tel Aviv denouncing the Israeli-imposed siege on the Gaza Strip by marching through the city, holding banners in Hebrew, Arabic and English denouncing the offensive and the imposed siege. Arab-Israeli members of the Israeli Parliament were seen taking part in the demonstration. December 27th was the official anniversary of the 22-day Israeli-led offensive on the Gaza Strip. According to Israel, the operation's aim was halting cross-border rocket fire into its cities by Palestinian militants. In the West Bank city of Nablus, dozens were seen holding a candle-light vigil commemorating the one year anniversary to the Gaza offensive. Demonstrations chanted slogans and held signs. Israeli human rights organisation said that in September 1,387 Palestinians were killed in the war.

Blackwater case dismissal ‘unacceptable’: Iraq

Iraqi legal officials on Saturday denounced the decision of a US federal court ruling that threw out all charges against five Blackwater Worldwide security guards accused of gunning down Iraqi civilians in 2007. The ruling was "unjust and unacceptable" Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement, adding that Iraq had started to take steps to sue the private security company, now known as Xe Services. He also called for the verdict to be appealed. He gave no details on how or where Iraq would take legal action. Dhiyaa al-Saedi, head of the Iraqi Bar Association, demanded that the Iraqi authorities expel private security companies from Iraq because these companies breached Iraqi law. "As a result of these bloody practices that the (security company) had practiced in Iraq, the Iraqi Bar association is calling for an end to the presence of these companies, despite the fact that most of these companies are seeking to change their names and addresses. The security companies exceeded their limits and started to interfere in political affairs, in addition to committing criminal acts against innocent Iraqis, without reasons," he said.

Electricity shortfall increases up to 4000MW

Shortfall of electricity has been increased up to 4000 megawatts as ten of the power generation units of Tarbela Power House have been shut down due to which loadshedding period has been increased. While due to technical fault in Jamshoro Power House, power supply to Guddu and Lahore Power Houses has been suspended. According to PEPCO sources, power generation has been dropped down to 600MW due to rainless season and shortage of water in River Indus. On the other hand, 660MW electricity supply to Lahore Power Houses has been suspended due to closure of two power unites of Jamshoro Power House.

Gold plummets by Rs 150 per tola

Decrease in gold prices was recorded in local market and international markets on Saturday as gold lowered by Rs 150 per tola. Gold prices fell to Rs 35,200 per tola, down Rs 150 whereas price of 10 grams lowered to Rs 30,100, down Rs 129 in the local markets including Karachi. In international markets, gold price closed at $1099 per ounce with a decrease of $4 per ounce.

26 Pak cricketers available for IPL auction

At least 26 Pakistani cricketers have made themselves available for the third tournament of Indian Premier League's auction to be held on January 17 in former off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and Rawalpindi express Shoaib Akhtar are also included. None of the players have contacted the IPL through the PCB they have done this directly themselves. Muhammad Aamer, Shahid Afridi, Ahmed Shahzad, Saeed Ajmal, Umer Akmal, Fawad Alam and Yasir Arfat also want to play IPL. Muhammad Asif, Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Muhammad Hafeez, Yasir Hameed, Faisal Iqbal and Asim Iqbal have get them registered for auction. Danish Kanairia, Muhammad Khalil, Abdur Rauf, Khaled Lateef, Azhar Mehmood, Shoaib Mali, Khurram Manzoor, Rana Naveedul Hassan, Imran Nazir, Abdur Razzaq and Muhammad Sami would also be included in the auction.

All educational institutions closed due to security threats

After the two suicide bomb attacks at Islamic University Islamabad, all educational institutions of NWFP, Baluchistan, Sindh and Azad Kashmir have been closed till Sunday; where as in Punjab these institutions have been closed down for an indefinite period of time. While talking to Dunya News, Chief Secretary Sindh Fazal ur Rehman told that after the reports received from Federal Government and sensitive institutions, government and private educational institutions of 23 districts will remain closed till Sunday. All government and private universities of the province will also be closed and the ongoing examinations have been postponed; however Malakand University will remain open. Similarly all educational institutions in NWFP will also be closed till Sunday. According to the Provincial Law Minister Rana Sana Ullah all government and private educational institutions of the province have been closed, which will re-open once the security situation is improved. In Baluchistan and Azad Kashmir all universities, government and private schools and colleges will remain close till Sunday.