The weather report on Sunday (December 25, 2016) and the forecast for Monday (December 26, 2016).

Comparative table of returns being given banks on their Profit and Loss Sharing Investment Accounts and Term Deposits.

Following currency fluctuations took place in foreign exchange rates during the last week. (December 26 to 30, 2016).

All timings are in PST (Pakistan Standard Time).

Pakistan has reiterated its commitment to continue close co-operation with international community in its collective endeavours for elimination of terrorism.

Police have claimed that they have thwarted a major terror bid by arresting two terrorists belonging to the banned organisation and recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition from their possessions from Wahid Garhi area of Peshawar on Sunday. According t

Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Senator Sirajul Haq has urged the Muslim bloc to abandon the so-called United Nations if the latter can not take any decision in the interest of 1.2 billion Muslims around the world. He also called for establishment

Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Sunday took notice of the issue concerning a 'Pakistani mother and her four-year-old daughter being prisoners in a jail in Indian Occupied Kashmir since four years.

Andy Parker is a research fellow at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies and the project director for the SRM Governance Initiative (SRMGI). He has a background in climate policy and has worked on solar geo-engineering for over eight years, i

Andy Parker is a research fellow at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies and the project director for the SRM Governance Initiative (SRMGI). He has a background in climate policy and has worked on solar geo-engineering for over eight years, i

Another serious water shortage issue covers even drinking water shortages for Karachi (and soon for Gwadar as demands grow). Karachi needs alternative water source for 20 million plus inhabitants and present Indus river source is too precarious! We need a

Old aristocracies that ruled the world for 5000 years are dead or dying. King Farouk of Egypt, a serial playboy, lamented in 1952 "soon only 5 kings will be left in the world - the kings of Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs and the king of England". The Ari

With his inauguration fast approaching, US president-elect Donald Trump has been actively engaging in foreign policy as if he were already in office.

Foreign economists/analysts have long been regarded as much more credible compared to their domestic counterparts and while tall claims of formulating in-house domestic economic policies by finance ministers, economists or non-economists, past and present

That the blatantly discriminatory draft proposal prepared by former NSG chairman Rafael Mariano Grossi for Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership - for which India and Pakistan applied at about the same time-is inspired purely by political consideration

The Senate Standing Committee on Finance was finally able to approve on 29th December Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Bill, 2016 aimed against holding property in benami transactions with some minor amendments and award for whistleblowers. The approval

British Prime Minister Theresa May pledged in a New Year message on Sunday to seek a Brexit deal that would work for all Britons, not just those who voted to leave the European Union in a referendum she said had laid bare the nation's divisions.

The new United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said Sunday he would like to make 2017 a year to "put peace first," in a message heralding the new year and marking his first day as the world body's chief.

Police in the German city of Cologne said Sunday a heavy security presence on New Year's Eve prevented a repeat of last year's mass sexual assaults, while denying accusations of racial profiling.

Thousands of protesters, chanting "Sovereignty belongs to the people!" marched through Hong Kong on New Year's Day to protest at the government's legal bid to unseat some pro-democracy lawmakers.

A gunman stormed a house party and killed at least 11 people and himself during New Year celebrations in the south-eastern Brazilian city of Campinas late on Saturday.

Around 1,100 sub-Saharan African migrants tried to cross into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco on Sunday by storming a border fence, though most were eventually turned back, the Spanish government said.

William Christopher, who played the unassuming US Army chaplain, Father Mulcahy, struggling to bring spiritual comfort to an anarchic surgical unit during the Korean War on the long-running hit TV series "MAS*H," died on Saturday. He was 84.

Donald Trump is planning to do "many big things" after being sworn in as president, his communications director said Sunday, adding that his boss has no intention to stop using Twitter.

US President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday left open the possibility of meeting with Taiwan's president if she visits the United States after he is sworn in on January 20 and also expressed continued skepticism over whether Russia was responsible for com

Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh accused West African regional body ECOWAS of declaring war, after it said it was putting forces on alert in case he refused to step down at the end of his mandate this month. Jammeh, who has vowed to stay in power despite losin

China will never allow anyone to "make a great fuss" about its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, President Xi Jinping said in his New Year's address, while China's top official in charge of Taiwan ties warned of risk ahead in 2017.

Chandio has congratulated all newly elected office bearers of Karachi, Larkana and Sukkur Press Clubs and said in a statement issued here that the newly elected office-bearers of these press clubs would follow the ethics of transparent journalism and woul

Chairman Pakistan People's Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday extended felicitations to the newly-elected office-bearers of Karachi Press Club and hailed the members of Pakistan's oldest press club for upholding democratic transitions and commitment t

At the start of the new year, the SECP chairman, Zafar-ul-Haq Hijazi, has outlined the SECP's achievements of the outgoing year, saying that 2016 was an year of great achievements for the organisation because of the advancement of capital market and devel

A levies personnel was killed in a landmine explosion in Malik Banda area of Mamool in Bajaur Agency on Sunday. According to the political administration, the incident took place in Maik Banda area of Mamool in Bajaur Agency where a roadside explosion kil

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has clearly defined jurisdiction, functions and powers of Insurance Ombudsman, who would be empowered to investigate matters pertaining to the insurance companies under draft Insurance Bill 2016.

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has clearly defined jurisdiction, functions and powers of Insurance Ombudsman, who would be empowered to investigate matters pertaining to the insurance companies under draft Insurance Bill 2016.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter of PPP has decided to celebrate the birthday anniversary of the founding chairman Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in befitting manner across the province. The decision was taken in a meeting held here at Provincial Secretariat with

Sindh Inspector General (IG) Allah Dino Khawaja's forced leave is due to end on January 2. According to details, he will be resuming his duties from January 3. A D Khawaja was sent on forced leave on December 19 after which the responsibilities of Sindh I

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has passed draft of bill to regulate boilers and pressure vessels in the province. After the passage the bill has been sent to Governor for assent.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that seven projects will be completed in the province under China Pakistan Economic Corridor. Talking to newsmen in Nowshera the other day, he said the projects include laying of double rail track

In Occupied Kashmir, Indian troops in their unabated acts of state terrorism martyred over three hundred innocent Kashmiris during the year 2016. According to Kashmir Media Service, 39 of those martyred were killed in custody. The killings by the troops r

Brushstrokes in paintings could help early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases, according to a study published on Thursday of works by famous sufferers such as Salvador Dali and Willem De Kooning.

A common weight loss surgery is associated with long-term gastrointestinal problems and food intolerance, a recent study suggests. Researchers examined data on 249 extremely obese patients who had what's known as laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, whi

Forty years after emerging in what is today the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Ebola virus may finally have met its match in a vaccine which could be "up to 100 percent effective", according to its makers.

Web-based therapy for insomnia is an effective option that could reach "previously unimaginable numbers of people," researchers suggest. Although cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the first-line treatment for adults with chronic insomnia

The Indian Ocean island of Mayotte has been forced to impose severe water restrictions on tens of thousands of people due to the late arrival of seasonal rains.

From blows to the head on the sports field, to car crashes and playground falls, concussion is a common brain injury notoriously difficult to diagnose - until now, researchers said on Thursday. A US-based team unveiled a fast, portable and reliable test m

The cholera outbreak that hit Haiti after Hurricane Matthew slammed the island has been contained but persists due to lack of funding, according to the United Nations. An epidemic of the waterborne disease - which spread after a massive earthquake shook t

Presidential politics and celebrity interviews helped The New York Times Co surpass 100 million views for its Facebook Live videos, the company said on Wednesday.

Smartphone cameras have seen dramatic improvements, but technology alone won't produce shots that grab attention. That's where the human eye comes in. Here are eight tips to keep in mind when composing that shot, whether of family during the holidays or s

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd is in talks with LG Chem Ltd to make it one of its smartphone battery suppliers, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper said on Monday - a move that would diversify its supplier base after the failure of its Galaxy Note 7. Samsung Electronic

On the crowded morning metro in Helsinki, silence prevails. Everyone is hunched over their smartphone screens, reading the news, checking emails or watching videos.

Hubble Connected, the cloud-based platform from Binatone for the Emotional Home, announces several new innovations at CES that redefine the consumer experience within their emotional world. HUGO, the world's first truly intelligent smart camera will be un

Twitter on Wednesday began streaming 360-degree video, allowing users to interact and get behind the scenes of live broadcasts. "Starting today, you can check out live, interactive 360 videos from interesting broadcasters and explore what's happening with

Adding an edit button for users to fix spelling and grammar errors was the most-requested feature of the responses to Twitter as to what's the most important thing users want to see from the social-media service, according to a report by the Wall Street J

Abu Dhabi's stock market plans to introduce covered short-selling in the first quarter of 2017, its chief executive said on Monday, as it seeks to boost liquidity and attract more foreign investors. In covered short-selling, investors borrow shares and se

Emirates, the world's biggest long-haul airline, has taken delivery of its first Rolls-Royce engine-powered Airbus A380 superjumbo and has resolved its dispute with the engine maker over a technical issue. The A380 jet arrived in Dubai on Thursday morning

A telecommunications carrier seeks to become a TV network and movie studio owner. A major software company acquires one of the world's largest social networks. A smartphone maker snaps up a manufacturer of internet-connected audio speakers for cars. In 20

Amazon.com Inc said it shipped more than 1 billion items world-wide this holiday season, which the top online retailer called its best ever, and its shares rose 1.6 percent in afternoon trade.

French cosmetics giant L'Oreal said on Tuesday it was investing in an early stage fund managed by private equity firm Partech Ventures, making its second investment in digital and technology start-ups in less than a year.

Oman's telecommunications companies will pay a royalty to the government of 12 percent of revenues in 2017, the country's Capital Market Authority said in a bourse statement on Thursday, citing a letter from the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority.

Panasonic Corp will invest more than 30 billion yen ($256 million) in a New York production facility of Elon Musk's Tesla Motors to make photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, deepening a partnership of the two companies. Tesla's shares were up 3.5 percent

As India's biggest corporate showdown heads from the boardroom to the courtroom and brings in a Who's Who of the country's legal profession, ousted Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry vows a multi-layered battle for governance reforms at the $100 billion cong

Nomura Holdings Inc sees opportunities in the pro-business stance of US president-elect Donald Trump, though his protectionist tilt brings uncertainty to the global economy, said the chief of Japan's biggest brokerage and investment bank.

World number one Andy Murray insisted Sunday that Novak Djokovic will remain his biggest threat in 2017, as the pair prepare for a potential first clash of the season in Doha this week. Newly-knighted Murray, speaking ahead of the first round of the Qatar

Frenchwoman Alize Cornet battled back from losing the first set to overcome seventh seeded Russian Elena Vesnina in the opening round of the Brisbane International on Sunday.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has rejected a call by the Kuwaiti government to temporarily lift a 14-month sports ban while the Gulf State amends a controversial law. World sports bodies led by the IOC and football governing body FIFA suspende

The cost of Olympic television rights may look hair-raising but Eurosport is confident it will get back the 1.3 billion euros ($1.4 billion) it laid out to get European rights, according to its chief executive.

ZTBL clinched the Suzuki Vitara Polo Cup 2016 trophy after trouncing Pebble Breakers by 81/2-3 in the final played here at the Lahore Polo Club (LPC) ground on Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur steamed into the top four as Harry Kane marked his 100th Premier League appearance with a double in a 4-1 thrashing of a woeful Watford on Sunday.

Olivier Giroud stole the show as the Arsenal striker's outrageous "scorpion kick" stung Crystal Palace and inspired his side's 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The United States opened their Hopman Cup campaign in style with a 3-0 win over the Czech Republic in Perth on Sunday. The American pair of Jack Sock and Coco Vandeweghe won both their singles matches to clinch the tie, and then made it a clean sweep with

Former captain Ricky Ponting has become the third ex-international to take on an interim coaching role with the Australian Twenty20 team next month. Ponting will join fellow assistant Jason Gillespie and Justin Langer (head coach) for the Twenty20 series

Australia have one eye on India and Pakistan could be contemplating life without their most successful captain Misbah-ul-Haq when the final 'dead' Test begins on Tuesday in Sydney. Steve Smith's Australians wrapped up the three-match series with a Test to

For 79 years it reigned as a New York culinary institution: the Carnegie Deli, frequented by locals and visitors for its ginormous sandwiches, and immortalised in the Woody Allen movie "Broadway Danny Rose."

Tanzanian President John Magufuli sacked the head of the state-run electricity company on Sunday after the firm put up tariffs, a move the president said would stymie his plans to industrialise the east African country.

Swiss voters would rather maintain close economic ties with the European Union than adopt immigration curbs that could jeopardise Switzerland's access to the EU single market, a survey published on Sunday showed.

A 2017 state budget plan released by Oman's government on Sunday projected a smaller deficit but maintained tight curbs on spending because of low oil prices, which are hurting state revenues.

Libya was producing 685,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) on Sunday, up from around 600,000 a day last month, an official from the National Oil Corporation (NOC) said. Output has risen after a two-year blockade was lifted two weeks ago on major pipelines l

Israeli financial institutions will have to start sending details of foreigners' bank accounts to the authorities by the end of 2017, as part of a global push to boost tax collection, the Finance Ministry said on Sunday.

Spain's economic growth may have exceeded the 3.2 percent pace officially projected by the government for 2016, Economy Minister Luis de Guindos said in a radio interview on Sunday. De Guindos also said Spain would be looking to maintain its net debt issu

Deutsche Bank Chairman Paul Achleitner has ruled out a European merger or a state bailout after the lender's mortgage settlement with the US Department of Justice, Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung reported. The bank, Germany's biggest, last week ann

State Bank of India, the country's biggest lender by assets, said on Sunday it had cut its lending rates by 90 basis points for maturities ranging from overnight to three-year tenures, after experiencing a surge in deposits.

Rwanda's economy grew by 5.2 percent in the third quarter of last year, down from 5.4 percent in the second quarter and 5.9 percent in the same period in 2015, according to data published by the statistics office. The central African nation has posted soa

Argentina will loosen regulations in the telecommunications sector in a bid to increase competition among providers and modernise the country's internet service, a government source with knowledge of the situation told Reuters on Friday.

Sales of new cars in France rose 5.1 percent last year, breaching the symbolic threshold of two million vehicles for the first time since 2011, the French automakers' association CCFA said Sunday.

The Chinese government should set a more flexible target for economic growth this year to give more space for reform efforts, a central bank adviser told the official Xinhua news agency in comments published on Sunday.

Manufacturing activity in China slowed slightly in December, official figures showed Sunday, as the world's second largest economy stabilises. The official purchasing managers' index (PMI), which gauges conditions at factories and mines, came in at 51.4 i

India's benchmark BSE Sensex index is expected to rise next year but it may not scale record highs predicted a few months back, a Reuters Poll showed, mainly because Prime Minister Narendra Modi's shock currency ban is seen knocking economic growth in the

The US dollar rally is likely to continue into the coming year on expectations that President-elect Donald Trump's proposed reflationary economic policies will force the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates more quickly, according to a Reuters poll.

Saudi Arabia's stock market rose on Sunday with much activity focusing on second- and third-tier stocks rather than blue chips, while Oman's bourse was dragged down by a higher tax on telecommunications companies.

Handing out multibillion-dollar fines right and left to domestic and foreign financial giants, the United States has taken on the role of the unforgiving global cop of the business world.

Interbank buy/sell rates for the taka against the dollar on Sunday. 78.70-78.70 (previous 78.70-78.70).

Canada's main stock index is expected to extend this year's hefty gains in 2017, a Reuters poll found, although stock market strategists said they are concerned about the outcome of the US election and potential threats to global trade. The Toronto S&P/TS

It was a surprisingly great year for investors brave enough to put money in Brazilian stocks, even though the country spent 2016 floundering through its worst recession in a century and rocked by political instability.

Financial pundits shouted about record high levels for the stock market in 2016, but for actively managed stock mutual funds there was another record, one they would rather keep quiet: the largest amount of net withdrawals ever recorded.

Italian borrowing costs fell at the final bond auction of the year on Thursday in a sign of resilient investor appetite for the country's debt as the government prepares to rescue ailing bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena and other weak lenders.

After a late-year rally fuelled by the US election pushed stocks to surprising new peaks, investors are wary that the market could be primed for a spill to start 2017.

South Korea's impeached President Park Geun-hye on Sunday broke a month-long silence over her alleged role in a corruption scandal, publicly denying charges of wrongdoing and saying that the accusations against her were "fabrication and falsehood."

The new year in one of Africa's most troubled countries began in a burst of optimism Sunday after rival groups agreed a deal for hauling DR Congo out of a perilous political crisis.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said on Sunday that the isolated nuclear capable country was close to test-launching an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). North Korea tested ballistic missiles at an unprecedented rate during 2016, although some ex

Legendary animation artist Tyrus Wong, whose evocative sketches were used to create Disney's groundbreaking "Bambi" cartoon, has died at the age of 106, the company said. "Tyrus Wong had a gift for evoking incredible feeling in his art with simple, gestur

Fighting in parts of Syria on Sunday threatened a shaky cease-fire brokered by Russia and Turkey, whose efforts to kick-start talks towards ending the conflict won backing from world powers. The nation-wide truce between the regime and non-jihadist rebels