MUMBAI: While Salman Khan is busy shooting for his next film with Katrina Kaif in Dublin, a Romanian magazine has linked him up with a local TV news presenter named Iulia Vantur.

According to the report, Iulia met Salman last year when she came to India for a holiday. She met him through a producer friend. At that time, she was dating her long-time boyfriend Marius Moga. However, she made another trip to India this year after breaking up with Moga. Salman helped her get over the break up and she stayed in touch with him after she returned to her country.

The magazine reveals that Iulia has now adopted an Indian lifestyle. So much so, that she even observes traditional festivals, visits temples and reads the scriptures. Her sense of dressing has also changed, with her wearing the shalwar-kameez and even saris!

Talking to the magazine, she admitted that meeting Salman was a turning point in her life and that the two are very much in touch via IM on their phones. The TV presenter is now planning to make another visit to India after Salman returns from his overseas shoot.

 KARACHI: Chicken is being retailed at Rs300/kg as relentless rains have hit Sindh’s poultry industry hard, breaking supply chain to Karachi and other cities, Geo News reported.

“Thousands of birds either died or washed away in the recent showers leaving little stock to put on sale, and whatever we were left with, ran into transportation snags”, said Kamal Akhtar, General Secretary of Sindh Poultry Retailers Association.

Owing to the supply issues poultry prices have shot up, he added.

He said right now, live birds are being sold for Rs176/kg and chicken for Rs300/kg.

 KARACHI: Former Pakistan Captain Shahid Afridi said Saturday he was considering a return to the national team and would make a decision in the next few months, Geo News reported.

While speaking to the media the former skipper said he had differences with Coach Waqar Younis but things were improving since Younis would no longer be the coach following the tour of Zimbabwe.

Afridi added that there was intense pressure on him to return to playing international cricket and he would make a decision after consulting his close friends.

Afridi had decided to leave international cricket citing differences between him and Waqar Younis and former manager Intikhab Alam.

 KARACHI: Jiye Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) Chief Bashir Qureshi Saturday said that his 'licensed weapons' had been confiscated under a conspiracy to kill him, Geo News reported.

Talking to media men after being released on bail from Mali Prison, the JSQM Chief said: " (Interior Minister) Rehman Malik and Rangers will be responsible if I get killed."

He alleged that Rangers action in Karachi was tainted with discrimination and that Sindh Police was doing a much better job than Rangers.

Bashir Qureshi said he had survived two attacks on his life in the past but added that his men were killed in those attempts.

He said Sindhis had been completely deprived of security in Karachi.

Earlier an additional sessions judge had set bail of Rs 100,000 each for Qureshi and his accomplice Badaruddin.

On Friday Qureshi was sent to jail on a four day judicial remand while the case against one of the co-accused Sheraz Ahmad was dismissed.

The JSQM Chief has been charged with illegally possessing weapons and was detained by the Rangers before he was handed over to the police.

 LAHORE: Nine people died from the Dengue virus in Lahore on Saturday taking the death toll to 38 in the city, Geo News reported.

Hospitals in the province are crowded with Dengue patients who complain that despite government orders there are not enough resources to treat the virus.

In a step to deal with the growing number of Dengue patients in the province, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has fixed the blood test price at Rs90 in private laboratories. These laboratories have been warned of strict action if they charge excessive fees.

Meanwhile Sri Lankan experts brought in to deal with the rapid spread of the virus visited different areas. They also briefed doctors and medical staff at the Jinnah hospital. The experts appealed to people to avoid repeated blood tests and not to be scared of the virus.

The experts emphasised the need to keep the city clean to curtail the spread of the virus.

 UNITED NATIONS: The UN General Assembly on Friday gave Libya's UN seat to the National Transitional Council which toppled Moamer Kadhafi.

The 193-member assembly voted 114 to 17 to let representatives of the council take over Libya's UN mission in the face of opposition from left-wing Latin American governments. Some African nations called for a decision to be postponed.

 QUETTA: Three Congo Virus cases were reported in Quetta on Friday, Geo News reported. A senior surgeon and medical technician are amongst those who have contracted the virus.

Dr. Adam Khan the head of the isolation ward at Fatima Jinnah TB hospital said the surgeon and technician were infected with the virus while they were treating a patient. Dr. Khan added that the blood samples of the patients had been sent to Islamabad for testing.

 NEW YORK: Marc Jacobs drew a beautiful and audacious line Thursday under a New York Fashion Week that stood out for its optimism and bright yellows and oranges.

As he has in the past, Jacobs chose the Armory in southern Manhattan rather than the Fashion Week headquarters at the Lincoln Center for his Spring-Summer 2012 show.

The theatrical choreography saw about 50 unworldly outfits mixing materials and turning conventions upside down.

Cellophane for raincoats, fringed coats, fake crocodile for straight yellow or dark red skirts, sparkly turbans and loafers -- Jacobs was as innovative as ever, and that was before he unveiled the strange, transparent cowboy boots.

Nylon, cellophane, organza, silicone and silk socks to go with golden high heels were just some of the materials he used, setting up a show to delight the celebrity fan club, including Sofia Coppola and actress Elle Fanning.

Earlier Thursday, Ralph Lauren won lengthy standing ovations for his 1920s-inspired collection, recalling the "Great Gatsby" days of vintage jade silk chiffon dresses and high-waisted, side-button trousers.

Cloche hats, pinstriped blazers and flapper-style beaded gowns, including with an ostrich-feather headscarf, completed the look.

For all the fantasy, this was a Fashion Week that could not exclude the outside world.

It opened as New York marked the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks and Marc Jacobs asked to hold his preview until the end because of delays in preparations caused by Hurricane Irene.

There was also a whiff of scandal over the Guli collection from the daughter of Uzbekistan's authoritarian president Islam Karimov.

After human rights groups complained about her participation, the fashion week took the unusual measure of canceling the show.

Instead, the Guli collection, mostly flowing silk dresses, was unveiled in the chic Cipriani restaurant.

Overall this week, the colors were resolutely optimistic and sharp and a new tech-friendly approach allowed fashionistas to follow many collections live on their computers and phones, without having invitations to the Lincoln Center.

A newly pregnant Beyonce, Michael Douglas and Whoopie Goldberg were among the A-listers in the front rows.

London Fashion Week starts Friday and runs through September 21. (AFP)

 HARARE: Pakistan continued their winning streak and outplayed Zimbabwe again in the first of the two Twenty20 Internationals here at the Harare Sports Club ground on Friday.

Chasing a difficult winning target of 199 runs, Zimbabwe could not resist against accurate bowling and alert fielding by Pakistanis and were bundled out for 113 runs in 15.2 overs.

Earlier, Pakistan piled up 198-4 after being put into bat by Zimbabwe skipper Brandan Taylor.

Later, Hafeez joined by debutant Rameez Raja junior and both took the score to 147 when Hafeez was out after making 71 off 48 balls. He hit six fours and three sixes. It was his maiden half-century in T20 career.

Rameez made 23 while Umar Akmal remained not out on 22. Shoaib Malik failed again scoring seven runs but Sohail Tanveer smashed 17 unbeaten runs off just five balls with two towering sixes.

In reply, only four Zimbabwean batsmen could reach double figures as Mohammad Hafeez in an allround display captured four wickets for just 10 runs while Sohail Khan took two for 13.

For Pakistan three players – Aizaz Cheema, Rameez Raja (2) and Yasir Shah made their T20I debut while Kyle Jarvis played his first T20I for Zimbabwe.

 KARACHI: Long-term investors were further put off Pakistan's deeply troubled economy when the start of the country's new financial year was marred by a Taliban insurgency in the country's northwest and chronic power shortages, analysts say.

Foreign investment in the country fell 76.9 percent in the first two months of the 2011/12 fiscal year (July-June) to $65.2 million due to a decrease in both direct and portfolio investment, the central bank said on Friday.

Investment totalled $282.5 million in the first two months of 2010/11 fiscal year.
FDI fell 39.9 percent in July-August 2011 to $112.4 million from $186.9 million in the same period last year, the State Bank of Pakistan said.

At least 400 people were killed in July and August in violence in the country's main commercial hub and investors have started shunning the country's main stock exchange.

Foreign portfolio investment fell 149.3 percent with outflows of $47.1 million in the first two months of the fiscal year 2011/12, compared with inflows of $95.6 million in the same period last year.

Country’s battered economy needed an International Monetary Fund (IMF) emergency loan package, agreed in November 2008, to help it avert a balance of payments crisis and shore up reserves.

It received the fifth tranche of $1.13 billion of the $11 billion loan in May 2010. (Reuters)

 PESHAWAR: PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif said Friday that strict punishment should be given to those behind the violence in Karachi, Geo News reported.

Sharif who was addressing workers during a party convention said many parties were behind the violence and the city was destabilised on purpose. “If the situation was solved in parliament than the court would not have to take notice” said Sharif who also attributed the governments failure as the reason behind the violence.

Sharif said the present government was ruining the situation in the country on purpose and if the right decision meant calling for a revolution than he would make that call. Sharif added that if the government stopped extravagant spending than there would be no need for international assistance.

On the electricity shortfall in the country, Sharif said the government could end loadshedding. “If there is electricity than several problems will be solved” Sharif said.

 LAHORE: Dengue continues to grip Punjab and 5,500 cases have been confirmed in the province, Geo News reported. Out of the 30 people who lost their lives in Punjab due to the virus, 26 were from Lahore.

Hospitals in the province are flooded as patients with fever fear that they might have Dengue. Emergency has been declared in hospitals but the problem at government hospitals is uncontrollable due to limited resources. Several patients have turned to private hospitals where they are being over-charged for treatment.

As the third round of fumigation begins, complaints have been received that teams have not sprayed several areas.

Experts who were called from Sri Lanka met Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. The experts were of the view that there was no short cut to deal with the epidemic but a long-term strategy was required to control the virus.

Shahbaz Sharif said that awareness campaigns had been launched to curb Dengue virus, however public cooperation was crucial in this regard.

Dengue symptoms include lowered blood platelets accompanied by high fever, body rash and vomiting.

 NEW YORK: Counseling alone does not seem to help pregnant women quit smoking, according to a review of previous studies that concludes more research on the use of nicotine replacement and other therapies during pregnancy may be needed.

Published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the analysis included eight clinical trials of nearly 3,300 pregnant women. Researchers looked at whether counseling helped pregnant women quit smoking after six months. (Reuters)

 TORONTO: Veteran Indian actor Pankaj Kapur's eagerly awaited directorial debut "Mausam" was pulled from the Toronto film festival line-up on Tuesday, one day before it was to premiere.

Organizers said in a statement they were informed by the studio that the film had not received regulatory approvals in India in time to screen the film this week in Toronto.

"We ran into a delay getting approvals from the Indian Air Force and the Board of Film Certification in India," producer Sheetal Talwar said.

The studio Eros International Media Limited had granted the Indian Air Force final approval on the film prior to clearing the Indian censor board in exchange for using its image.

Three screenings on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in Toronto as well as a press conference with world media were canceled at the last minute.

In the film, Kapur's son Shahid plays an Indian Air Force pilot from the Punjab whose love for a woman from Kashmir (Sonam A. Kapoor) is thwarted by their differences - he is Hindi, she is Muslim. (AFP)

 HARARE: Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field in the final one day international (ODI) against Pakistan Wednesday, Geo News reported. Pakistan which has already won the first two matches of the series will look for a clean sweep.

Pakistan team: Mohammed Hafeez, Imran Farhatm Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal, Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Aizaz Cheema and Yasir Shah

Zimbabwe team: Vusi Sibanda, Chamu Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor, Tatenda Taibu, Malcolm Waller, Prosper Utseya, Ray Price, Elton Chigumbura, Kyle Jarvis and Brian Vitori.

 KARACHI: The devastating rain flood in Sindh has among other things severely hit the standing cotton crops, Geo News reported.

Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association’s executive member, Ehsanul Huque told Geo News that cotton crop estimated at 2.2 million bales worth Rs77 billion has been washed away in the torrential rain spell that caused devastating floods.

Ehsanul Huque said that the textile mills this year would have to import cotton before time in a bid to meet this shortfall.

 KABUL: Officials raised the death toll in a 19-hour siege in Kabul to 14 Wednesday as the Afghan government announced the violence had come to an end with the killing of two insurgents.

The attacks started Tuesday but dragged into a second day as armed men remained holed up in a high-rise construction site overlooking the US embassy and the headquarters of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Lieutenant Colonel Jimmie Cummings, an ISAF spokesman, said: "Nineteen (were) wounded, 11 killed, which includes three children." Cummings told the dead were all civilians.

Interior ministry spokesman Siddiq Siddiqui previously said that three police were also killed, taking the overall toll to 14.

Cummings added: "We also have six (ISAF troops) wounded in action since yesterday.

"Three of them were US which happened during the main engagement off the ISAF compound... the other three were in support during clearing (of the main building.)"

The death toll covered the main attack plus several much smaller related ones which took place elsewhere in Kabul Tuesday.

Siddiqui said the siege, which has raised fresh serious questions about security in Kabul, was now over.

"The last attackers are dead and the fighting all over. There were six terrorists in the building and all are dead," he told.

It is believed to be the first time a Taliban attack on Kabul - seen as relatively safe compared to many other parts of Afghanistan - has taken place across two days.

The coordinated assault is the latest sign that security has deteriorated sharply in the city where insurgents have staged increasingly brazen raids on Western targets. (AFP)

 HYDERABAD: Many interior areas of Sindh including Hyderabad are receiving light drizzling while rainwater is still stagnant in different areas, Geo News reported Wednesday. The victims of rain and flood-hit areas are still facing difficulties in obtaining food and medicines.

According to sources, residents of many areas of Hyderabad are facing difficulties due to stagnant rainwater while supply of necessary food items has also been affected due to market closure.

Rescue operation was kicked off Wednesday morning in Juhi tehsil of Dadu where many flood-hit victims were transferred to safe areas. Badin is still inundated in floodwater and victims are forced to live under open sky.

On the other hand, water level in the left bank outfall drain (LBOD) is constantly decreasing. The district administration of Mirpurkhas instructed to evacuate three union counsels after breaches were reported in the saline water drains near Mirpurkhas. However, people did not migrate to the other areas as no more rains took place and the breaches are being repaired quickly.

The cotton and chilly crops in Sumaro and Kanri tehsil of District Umerkot were destroyed due to torrential rains while power and communication systems in many areas were adversely affected in Naukot, Jhadu, Tando Jam Mohammad and Digree areas. Power supply has been suspended in Naukot and surrounding areas for the past six days.

There is severe shortage of food and medicines in the relief camps of Sanghar while 2-3 feet of rainwater is present in Noshehro Feroz jails.

No proper arrangements were done to expel rainwater from many areas, causing difficulties for the locals.

 LAHORE: Dengue continues its grip over Punjab and the provincial capital in particular where 15 people have died from the disease, Geo News reported. Three including a boy died from the virus in the city on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif said a case would be lodged against those not providing free treatment for Dengue. Sharif has also directed the administration of private residential colonies to conduct fumigation drives.

A case pertaining to the spread of the virus is also being heard at the Lahore High Court (LHC). The court did not receive an answer from district government and health department officials and ordered that they submit their replies by September 16.

The court stated that people were dying from Dengue and high ranking officials were not concerned.

Opposition members in the Punjab Assembly also staged a walkout with a PML-N MPA claiming that the disease would be controlled within ten days.

499 new Dengue cases were reported in Lahore and 3,925 people are suffering from the virus. All educational institutions in the city have been closed for 10 days.

Eight Chinese engineers have also been infected with the Dengue virus and are receiving treatment at different hospitals of the city.

The situation is dire in Faisalabad as well where within a span of 18 hours, 35 new Dengue cases were reported. Overall 220 Dengue cases have been reported in the city.

 MUMBAI: Pakistani pop star Ali Zafar has received praise over his role in Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (MBKD). This is Ali Zafar's second Bollywood movie and with it he has become the hot favourite in India.

Ali Zafar, in MBKD, which was released under the Yash Raj banner on September 9, portrays the role of an individual who assigns his brother (Imran Khan) to search for his bride (Katrina Kaif). The film had a sensational opening at the box office and Zafar earned more praise than co-stars Imran Khan and Katrina Kaif.

Besides acting in the movie, Zafar has also provided his vocals to one of the tracks.

 NEW YORK: Novak Djokovic shrugged off a back scare to defeat defending champion Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (3/7), 6-1 to clinch the US Open on Monday, his third Grand Slam title of the year in an epic, brutal final.

The world number one Serb, who had already won the Australian Open before defeating Nadal at Wimbledon, racked up his 64th win against just two losses all year.

But having been just two points from the title in the 12th game of the third set, his dreams were almost shattered when he dropped the set on a tiebreaker and needed a medical time-out on a strained back muscle.

Victory represented the top-seeded, 24-year-old's fourth career Grand Slam trophy after making his breakthrough at the 2008 Australian Open.

Nadal, the second seed, had been hoping to collect his 11th major in his 14th Grand Slam final, but instead slumped to his sixth defeat in six meetings in 2011 against Djokovic.

The red-hot Serb who triumphed in a four-hour, 10-minute final featuring breathtaking shot-making, rock-solid defence, gruelling rallies as well as warnings for both men for taking too long between points.

Victory also allowed Djokovic, now just the sixth man to win three Grand Slams in the same year, to close in further on John McEnroe's 1984 winning record of 82 wins against just three defeats.

Djokovic arrived on court sporting a New York fire department baseball cap, a gesture appreciated by the 23,000 crowd, just a day after the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Despite the tricky, swirling breeze, Nadal was quickly on top, breaking for a 2-0 lead before the Serb hit straight back for 2-1.

Djokovic fought off three more break points in the fourth game and the Spaniard was made to pay when impressive court coverage allowed the Serb to bury a deep forehand to break for a 3-2 advantage.

A hold and another break, aided by two drop shots which left the struggling Nadal stranded at the back of the court, had Djokovic 5-2 ahead.

The Serb comfortably wrapped up the opener in the eighth game -- his six game in succession -- when the second seed netted a backhand as Djokovic again closed in for a volley.

In a carbon copy of the first set, Nadal was 2-0 ahead in the next before a marathon third game, which last just over 17 minutes and two exhausting rallies of 21 and 27 shots, was claimed by Djokovic on a sixth break point.

He did it in real style, too, three times retrieving the ball from the back of the court before Nadal netted a volley.

The Spaniard was becoming increasingly irritated with his inability to sneak away from his opponent as well as constant movement in the stands.

Djokovic held comfortably before breaking a weary Nadal when the Spaniard served a third double fault after a fifth game which featured another punishing rally of 28 shots.

Nadal avoided a double break in the seventh game and his sudden, new injection of confidence pushed him to even the set at 4-4.

But it was another brief respite as back came the Serb with his sixth break of the final for 5-4 which was converted into a two-set lead when Nadal was made to look uncharacteristically heavy-footed as he fruitlessly tried to chase down a blistering Djokovic forehand winner.

In a rollercoaster third set, Djokovic broke for 2-1, Nadal hit back for 2-2, the Serb broke again for 3-2 before Nadal levelled again for 3-3.

Another lengthy rally, this time 31 shots, punctuated the eighth game where Djokovic saved a break point.

The Serb then nipped to 6-5 on his 20th break point of the final and was just two points from the title at 30-30 when Nadal hit back to take the set to the tiebreaker through which he cruised 7/3.

Djokovic then summoned the trainer for treatment on his back strain, but incredibly still managed to break for 2-0 and then 5-1 as Nadal's spirit suddenly wilted under a sustained barrage.

A razor-sharp backhand set-up match point and the title was his with a sweeping, killer forehand. (AFP)

 KARACHI: The Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) will close at the usual 3:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday, reversing an earlier decision to close at noon because of floods in Pakistan's commercial capital, an exchange official said.

"There has been some increase in attendance and though volumes are still pretty low, we have decided for the convenience of investors that the market will close as normal," Nadeem Naqvi, managing director of the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) told Reuters.

"However, the trades done today will be merged with those of tomorrow and hence will be settled tomorrow," he said.

Naqvi had earlier said that the market will close at noon due to a lack of volume and negligible attendance of members.

Floods triggered by monsoon rains have crippled Pakistan's biggest city and commercial hub of Karachi on Tuesday, with few people able to make it to work or school, officials said.

The benchmark KSE 100-share index was up 0.63 percent by noon on volume of just over 11 million shares. (Reuters)

 LEIGHTON BUZZARD: Four men charged with slavery offences following a British police raid on a Travellers' caravan site were due in court Tuesday over the treatment of four alleged victims.

The accused, all from the same family, were to appear before Luton Magistrates' Court charged with conspiring to holding a person in servitude and requiring them to perform forced labour.

They are Tommy Connors, 30, Patrick Connors, 19, James (Big Jim) Connors, 34, and James (Jimmy) Connors, 23, all from the Green Acres caravan site outside Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, northwest of London.

More than 200 police officers entered the caravan site Sunday, removing 24 men thought to have been held against their will, including a number of foreign nationals from eastern Europe.

"These charges relate to four victims who allege they have been held against their will and forced to live and work like slaves," said Adrian Roberts of the Crown Prosecution Service.

Police were continuing to investigate other possible offences relating to other potential victims, he added.

Besides the four men, one woman was also arrested. She is heavily pregnant and was released on bail Monday. She will be questioned once she has given birth, Bedfordshire Police said.

Sunday's operation followed months of investigation and detectives said they were looking for two other suspects.

Of the 24, men removed, nine have left the medical reception centre and chosen not to support the police investigation.

"The remaining 15 continue to be assessed for medical and welfare needs," Bedfordshire Police said in a statement.

"It will take a number of days to establish exactly what has happened to them while living on the site."

Those remaining include three Britons, three Poles, one Latvian, one Lithuanian and two men whose nationalities are yet to be confirmed, said police.

The oldest is aged 50 and the youngest is 30.

Of the men who chose to leave, seven were British and two were Romanian. The youngest was a 17-year-old Briton who has re-joined his family.

"Those people who we continue to help are appreciative of the support that is on offer, but it will take some time to work through with them what has happened," said Detective Chief Inspector Sean O'Neil. (AFP)

 BADIN: Intermittent rains that started on Monday's morning continued across the province throughout the day, adding to the plight of the people already facing severe difficulties in the wake of relentless rains, Geo News reported Tuesday.

After a day long rains more villages came under water in different districts of the province while 12 people lost their lives in separate rain related incidents.

Several villages are inundated and flood affectees are awaiting relief in camps. The NDMA states that over 200 people have died during the floods.

Rain continued in calamity stricken Badin and affectees were waiting for help in relief camps. After three days, rain stopped in Dadu but the devastation caused was apparent. There is a severe shortage of food and clean drinking water in relief camps.

Rain started again Monday afternoon in Dadu and according to DCO Jafar Abbasi, a camp has been formed at the district jail for flood affectees. Several acres of crops were destroyed in Tando Muhammad Khan and over in Nawabshah, water had accumulated in several areas.

The rains and floods have caused mass devastation in the province and it affects are expected to last as health experts fear the spread of water borne diseases on a large scale.

In Hyderabad, torrential monsoon rains lashed Hyderabad, flooding many localities from two to three feet, disrupting the power supply and killing two people. Twenty-five others were also injured due to heavy downpours.

The heavy downpours started at 4:00pm on Monday and remain continued till the filing of this report. The Met office recorded rains of 50mm, while registering a maximum temperature of 27.5C and the lowest minimum 30C. The Met office forecast that scattered rains, thunder showers, heavy to very heavy falls could continue for the next 24 hours in the district. The office also said that the renewed spell of the monsoon rains would last till Wednesday night.

The rainwater inundated several areas including Gari Khata, Paretabad, Phuleli, Dadan Shah, Sarfraz Colony, Saddar,Liaquat Colony, Hali Road, Masan Road, Kacha Qila, Cloth Market, Pinjrapole, GauShala and Latifabad nos 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. The continuous and heavy downpour also disrupted power supply in many localities.

Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz was killed when the roof of his house collapsed City Mohallah in Husri and Naseema Shoro was electrocuted at Lalu Lashari Goath, while 25 people were injured and admitted to different hospitals. The DCO and Administrator of the Hyderabad district announced a one-day holiday in government and private schools.

 KARACHI: Floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains crippled Pakistan's biggest city and commercial hub of Karachi on Tuesday, with few people able to make it to work or school.

In Karachi, the capital of Sindh, rain was forecast through Wednesday at least.
Rains that began Monday evening still continuing in the city. The convoy of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry was also stuck.

Many streets were impassable, cars were stuck, several fuel stations were inundated and no visible efforts were underway to drain water.

"We have recorded 50-100 mm (2 to 4 inches) of rain in Karachi and the situation is pretty bad. Many main roads and areas are inundated at the moment and it can turn even worse," said Mohammad Hussain Syed, the city's district coordination officer.

He said no casualties had been recorded.

The Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) will close at the usual 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, reversing an earlier decision to close at noon because of floods in Pakistan's commercial capital, an exchange official said.

"I thought I would be able to make it to work, but it was a wrong decision. Now I am stuck. My car has broken down and I can't even find anyone for help," said banker Khalid Hussain, standing knee-deep in water.

 VENICE: Russian filmmaker Alexander Sokurov won the Golden Lion award at the Venice film festival on Saturday for "Faust," a visceral take on Goethe's play which explores the theme of corrupting power.

"There are films which make you dream, which make you cry, laugh and think, and there are films which change your life forever. This is one of those films," said jury head Darren Aronofki, saying the decision had been unanimous.

Beating 22 other films to the prize, the stomach-turning movie is the final instalment of Sokurov's cinematic tetralogy on the nature of power, following his acclaimed portraits of Adolf Hitler, Vladimir Lenin and Emperor Hirohito.

Sokurov is the second Russian director ever to win the Golden Lion, after it was awarded to Andrei Zviaguintsev for "The Return" in 2003.

"Making auteur cinema is very difficult these days," the St Petersburg-based director said, adding that he was "very happy to live in a Europe where we can understand each other."

The Silver Lion director award went to China's Cai Shangjun for his revenge tale "People Mountain People Sea", this year's surprise addition to the festival line-up, in which a man ceaselessly hunts down his brother's killer.

The film has been censured in China, revealing as it does the appalling conditions in a Chinese mine.

As expected, best actor went to German-born Irishman Michael Fassbender, who plays an emotionally dysfunctional executive addicted to sex in Steve McQueen's powerful "Shame".

Rising star Fassbender -- of "Inglorious Basterds" and "Hunger" fame -- also appeared in another film in the competition this year, David Cronenberg's "A Dangerous Method," where he played psychoanalyst Carl Jung.

Best actress went to Deanie Yip for her portrayal of an elderly maid in a moving tale of the trials of growing old gracefully, "A Simple Life."

The jury at the world's oldest film festival also included US director Todd Haynes, Finnish Eija-Liisa Ahtila, British David Byrne, Italian Mario Martone and Alba Rohrwacher, and French Andre Techine.

The punted favourites -- Roman Polanski's grotesque comedy of manners "Carnage" and George Clooney's political thriller "The Ides of March" -- went home empty handed, as did Tomas Alfredson's much praised "Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy."

"Terraferma," Emanuele Crialese's tale of fishermen from a tiny Italian island who rescue a group of African refugees from drowning at sea, won the special jury prize for "combining social problems with great storytelling."

The theme of immigration inspired several Italian films in this year's programme, and saw Giudo Lombardi win the prize for best film in a parallel section for "La-bas."

For their tale of the struggle for survival in a post-tsunami Japan, Shota Sometani and Fumi Nikaido won the awards for best young actor and actress in Japanese director Sion Sono's "Himizu," which was based on a manga comic strip.

Best screenplay went to "Alps", Yorgos Lanthimos' a tale of actors who try to help people grieve by playing the role of their recently deceased loved ones.

Robbie Ryan was awarded the prize for best photography for "Wuthering Heights" by Britain's Andrea Arnold, a dark adaptation of the tragic love story between Cathy and Heathcliff in Emily Bronte's well-loved novel.

With no musical score, the film is a visual feast for the senses as it portrays the characters' turmoil through the lashing wind and rain, darkness and harshness of elements up on the Yorkshire moors in northern England.

Twenty-three films competed in all in the Mostra, which saw a host of stars arrive by speed boat for the red carpet in the lagoon city, from Madonna to Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and "The Godfather" star Al Pacino. (AFP)

 KARACHI: Senior Minister, Pir Mazharul Huque said that only those who think that their words would not be taken true lift the Holy Quran, however, he added he was not calling Zulfiqar Mirza a liar, Geo News reported.

Huque accompanied by the Sindh Governor, Ishrartul Ebad paid homage to the Quaid-e-Azam at his mausoleum on the Quaid’s death anniversary.

Later speaking to the media, Pir Mazharul Huque said that he along with Zulfiqar Mirza had gone to London on a goodwill mission to meet Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)’s Quaid Altaf Hussain and exchanged views on the situation in Sindh. Huque added that it was not proper to make the discussions of that meeting public.

Huque said he met Altaf Hussain in 1989 also and added that in our province of Sindh, only those lift the Holy Quran who think that their words would not be believed.

When quizzed are you calling Zulfiqar Mirza a liar, he replied “I will not call him a liar.”

 HYDERABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N)’s president, Nawaz Sharif said there was no need for a global appeal for flood relief, except for having developed the habit of begging. He further said Karachi staged show was like the thief blaming the cop.

Speaking with the media at the Hyderabad residence of former provincial minister, Dr. Irfan Gul Magsi, Nawaz Sharif demanded that the flood devastated areas be immediately declared as calamity hit areas.

PML-N president said the flood affected persons must get the relief, but there was no need to appeal for global help right now.

Sharif said that all of us should get united, he has no personal agenda, the political parties including all the concerned quarters should sit together.

Nawaz Sharif said, “This is Quaid-e-Azam’s Pakistan, but Quaid’s dreams are not coming true. The current situation in Pakistan might be hurting the Quaid’s soul even.”

Replying to a question, Nawaz Sharif said that he would make any comment on the Altaf Hussain’s video conference, but added that Karachi staged show was like a thief blaming the cop. Lacs of people were earning their livelihood in Karachi, all ended in a day, he lamented.

 KARACHI: At least nine people lost their lives when they were electrocuted during rain in the city, Geo News reported. Five members of the same family including a mother and daughter were among those killed.

Heavy rain lashed Karachi this afternoon and in a brief period of time water accumulated in several areas of the city. As a result, traffic jams are being reported across the city and several vehicles have broken down.

The chairman of the Karachi Traders Itehad adds that several markets in the city have been flooded.

According to the MET office, 52 MM or rain has fallen in Landhi, 40 MM in Saddar, 17.4 MM in the airport area and 16 MM in Gulistan-e-Jauhar.

 ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Saturday called upon the international community to help Pakistan rehabilitate Monsoon-devastated Sidh province as the damages, this time around, are far greater than expected.

Addressing the nation on TV, he summed up all the efforts made by the government and non-government entities to relieve hundreds and thousands of rained-out people.

“President Asif Ali Zardari has launched an international flood appeal, as the government alone cannot cope with the massive destruction these relentless rains made this season”, He said.

He also appealed to the nation to come forward in this need of hour and do as much relief work as they can.

NEW YORK: Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and India's Rohan Bopanna have lost in the semi-final match of the US Open Saturday, Geo News reported. Qureshi and Bopanna faced Mariusz Frystenberg and Marcin Matkowski of Poland in the semi-final.The duo had beaten the English pair of Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins 7-5, 2-5, 7-5 in the quarter-final match earlier.

 ISLAMABAD: National Health Department reported that 2413 dengue cases have been confirmed across the country, fearing the toll could be rise in days to come.

According to the National Health Department's report, total 2708 dengue patients have been admitted so far and dengue virus has been confirmed in 2413 cases.

In Punjab, 2170 dengue cases have been confirmed and 28 cases have been reported from Islamabad. The report further disclosed that 26 dengue cases were registered from Rawalpindi while 176 cases were registered in Sindh.

Moreover, 8 dengue cases were confirmed in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and 5 cases were reported in AJK. According to the report, so far 5 people died due to dengue fever.

Meanwhile, 33 more patients of dengue fever have been reported in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. These patients are being treated at PIMS and Poly Clinic Hospital Islamabad. Furthermore, state of emergency has been declared at all hospitals in twin cities.

Local authorities have been directed to all possible steps to prevent the rising tolls dengue patients.

Earlier, President Asif Ali Zardari expressed concern over the spread of the fever in the country and the loss of lives in the pandemic.

The president directed the federal and provincial government agencies along with other authorities to take immediate measures to curb the spread of dengue.

 MUMBAI: Filmmaker Rohit Shetty's action-packed 'Singham', starring Ajay Devgn as an honest cop fighting to clean up the system, has earned Rs.100 crore net in India in its sixth week.

It is said to be the seventh film of all time to have crossed the mark of Rs.100 crore net in collections. Produced by Reliance Entertainment, the film is still going strong in theatres. It will complete 50 days on September 10.

"A hard-hitting story, the wonderful combination of director Rohit Shetty and star Ajay Devgn and some amazing action sequences have resulted in an extremely successful run for the film," Sanjeev Lamba, CEO, Reliance Entertainment said.

"'Singham' is the first mainstream film produced by Reliance Entertainment and we are very pleased with the results," he added.

The cast of the film also includes Kajal Aggarwal and Prakash Raj.

 KARACHI: Pakistan State Oil Company (PSO) urgently needs Rs50 billion for paying the outstanding amounts of international suppliers, Geo News reported.

Sources said that PSO needs this amount latest by 15/16 of the current month, as its total outstanding amounts were as high as of Rs90 billion out of which Rs50 billion was required urgently for averting default.

Additional secretary, ministry of petroleum in a memo to the ministry of water and power hat termed this situation alarming.

On the other hand, PSO recoveries from the power sector companies and the government have swelled up to Rs174 billion.

In this backdrop, the company has demanded from the government immediate payment of Rs50 billion.

 CAIRO: Israel's ambassador to Egypt and senior staff has been evacuated home after protesters stormed a building containing the country's embassy in Cairo on Friday night.

Israel Radio said on Saturday that the plane carrying Yitzhak Levanon, the ambassador, and others had landed in Israel.

Israel's consul for state affairs was left behind to maintain its embassy, as Israel weighed its response to the attack by dozens of protesters on the building that houses its diplomatic mission.

Reports said that Egyptian commandos had entered the embassy building as it came under attack to escort six Israeli citizens to safety.

US President Barack Obama earlier called on Egypt to "honour its international obligations" to protect the diplomats and told Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, that Washington was taking steps to resolve the situation.

Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, also spoke with Mohamed Kamel Amr, the Egyptian foreign minister, who cut short a trip to Poland as Essam Sharaf, the Egyptian prime minister, called a crisis cabinet meeting.

An Israeli government official who wanted to remain anonymous told the Al Jazeera bureau in Jerusalem that Israel was grateful to Obama and Egyptian government for helping to resolve the situation.

But it said the incident was a blow to Israeli-Egyptian relations and a "serious violation of accepted diplomatic behavior".

"This could have been a real tragedy, we are thankful to all who helped resolve this matter”. Over the last few hours there was a real concern for the lives of our people," said the government official.

Pulling its diplomats even temporarily out of Egypt would represent another regional setback for Israel which has already seen relations with Turkey, another erstwhile regional ally, turn sour amid Turkish anger over last year's deadly raid by Israeli commandos on a Gaza-bound flotilla .

The Israeli embassy has been a focus for protests in Cairo amid a downturn in relations since Hosni Mubarak, the former Egyptian president, was ousted from power in February.

Five Egyptian border guards were killed last month during an Israeli operation against suspected gunmen who killed eight Israeli citizens, prompting Egypt briefly to threaten to withdraw its ambassador.

 NAWABSHAH: Speaking to the media at the circuit house here, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif said one should not be afraid of going to prison when fulfilling their duties, Geo News reported Saturday.

Responding to President Zardari’s order issued on TV for him to visit Nawabshah, the PML-N chief said he was complying with the president’s order.

Sharif called on President Zardari to take some time out and ensure the well being of people.

“It is time to forget politics and save the country,” Sharif said.

KARACHI: Twenty-nine Dengue cases have been reported in Sindh over the last nine days, Geo News reported Friday. In the last 24 hours, eight cases have been reported.According to the Dengue Surveillance Cell, seven patients are from Karachi while one is from Sukkur. From last year till date 190 Dengue cases have been reported in the province.

 CLEVELAND: A 43.5 carat diamond was sold through an online auction for $2.84 million. The yellow diamond known as ‘The Golden Eye’ was confiscated from a smuggler by the FBI in 2006.

The actual value of the diamond has been widely speculated. Some have said it was worth as much as $20 million. It measures about 1 inch long and three quarters of an inch wide.

The US government seized the jewel in late 2006 during an undercover federal sting that led to criminal convictions against former Stark County businessmen Michael “Mickey” Miller and Paul Monea.

The diamond was being used in a private sale to launder drug money, authorities said.

 MUMBAI: Bollywood movie actors Shahid Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor attended an event to hail the success of their film's ‘Mausam’ music track.

The event was also attended by Pankaj Kapur, the director and Pritam Chakraborty, the music director of film.

Terming the movie as different, Shahid Kapoor said the music of the film was extremelymesmerising as it takes one into a different world.

Pankaj Kapur noted that every song had a definite reason and thinking behind it.

The film is slated for release on September 16

 ORDOS: Arch-rivals Pakistan and India tied the semi-final match of the Asian Champions hockey tournament on Friday while Pakistan succeeded to gain its place in the finals, Geo News reported.

Both teams displayed aggressive attitude since the beginning of the match which was later tied 2-2.

Pakistan’s Waqas Sharif made the first goal in the second half of the tense match followed by Mohammad Irfan’s penalty corner.

India defended its position by attacking in the last twenty minutes and managed to make two goals to tie the match.

However, based upon the points after the match was drawn, Pakistan successfully qualified for the finals.

 Oil headed for a third weekly gain as investors bet President Barack Obama’s job-creation plan will support demand for fuel and as producers in the Gulf of Mexico evacuated workers ahead of Tropical Storm Nate.

New York futures climbed as much as 0.5 percent, erasing a drop of 0.8 percent, after Obama asked Congress to pass a proposal that would inject $447 billion into the economy of the world’s biggest crude user.

Oil for October delivery gained as much as 45 cents to $89.50 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $89.08 at 2 p.m. Singapore time. Prices are 3 percent higher this week and up 20 percent the past year.

On the other hand, gold prices in the international market are expected to fall, after Obama Job Plan. Presently, gold price was seen pegged at $1869 per ounce.

 NEW YORK: New York City deployed more police onto the streets and President Barack Obama ordered boosted counterterrorism efforts.after officials warned of the threat of a terror strike on the United States as Americans braced to mourn those killed 10 years ago in the 9/11 attacks.

"There is specific, credible but unconfirmed threat information," the Department of Homeland Security said.

"We have taken, and will continue to take all steps necessary to mitigate any threats that arise," the department added in a statement just days before Sunday's poignant remembrance ceremonies.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg told reporters extra police would be deployed at key locations including tunnels and bridges in response to the intelligence reports.
The police department "is deploying additional resources... some of which you will notice and some of which you will not," Bloomberg said, stressing that there was no confirmation of the reported threat.

The city's police commissioner, Raymond Kelly, told the press conference that new measures included police "trained in heavy weapons positioned outside of Manhattan to respond citywide."

Extra shift hours would effectively increase by a third the size of patrols around New York, with checks on ferries, tunnels, bridges and landmarks, Kelly said.

There will be increased towing of illegally parked cars and more bomb detection sweeps in carparks, as well as "increasing the number of bag inspections on the subway," Kelly said.

In addition, "the public is likely to see and may be somewhat inconvenienced by vehicle checkpoints at various locations."US media said three people were reported to have entered the country in August and were allegedly seeking to carry out an attack using vehicles -- either trucks or cars -- laden with explosives.

A US counterterrorism official told the Wall Street Journal that Al-Qaeda militants from Pakistan might be preparing for a string of car-bombings in Washington and New York.

Al-Qaeda has "been knocked back on their heels, but they will try to attack the US any way they can," the official added.

One of the three suspects was believed to be a US citizen, ABC television said, quoting a senior administration official, and adding the three were thought to have started their journey from Afghanistan and flown into the US.

Two rental trucks, which had been sought in connection with the threat after they were reported missing in Kansas City, Missouri, were found and were not believed to be linked to any plot, the New York Times said.

Although the country has already tightened security ahead of Sunday's anniversary, Obama had "directed the counterterrorism community to redouble its efforts in response to this credible but unconfirmed information," a White House official said.

New York Congressman Peter King, who heads the House Committee on Homeland Security, would not confirm any details after lawmakers were briefed about the situation.

But he told CNN "there were very, very specific facts that were made known in this threat."
"I can tell you that the administration, all levels of law enforcement, federal, state and local where it's appropriate are checking out every possible lead, running this to ground, and we've come a long way since September 11th."

The FBI refused to comment about the threat.

It comes as the United States prepares to mark the anniversary of the devastating September 11, 2001 attacks in which almost 3,000 people were killed.

The announcement came after the Pentagon on Wednesday raised the alert level at bases across the United States as "a prudent and precautionary measure," given Al-Qaeda's interest in milestones and anniversaries.

Sunday's biggest event will be the reading of victims' names at Ground Zero, which will be attended by victims' family members, as well as Obama, former president George W. Bush, and Bloomberg.

Although there have been no attacks on the scale of 9/11 in the United States in the 10 years since, the nation has been on heightened alert amid a series of foiled and failed attacks.

Security is a top concern for organizers of the ceremonies with large crowds are expected to gather as the country reflects on a decade of war abroad and fear of further attacks at home. (AFP)

 KARACHI: The hearing of the suo motu Karachi violence case was adjourned on Friday till September 13, Geo News reported.

The five-member bench of the Supreme Court is headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. During Friday’s proceedings, Attorney General Maulvi Anwar-ul-Haq presented the report of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) before the bench.

Advocate General Sindh, Fateh Malik presented a summary of different cases from July 24 till August 24. The Chief Justice directed the Advocate General to provide details of the firing on a bus in Banaras and the kidnapping of footballers in Lyari.

IG Sindh, Wajid Durrani also appeared before the court and said that 40% of police officers had political affiliations. The Chief Justice remarked the court had ordered that shoulder promotions be stopped but this was not implemented in Sindh.

 ISLAMABAD: 120,000 pregnant women are among those affected by the recent floods in Sindh, Geo News reported Friday. These women face a risk from water borne diseases and several of them have been living without shelter.

According to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) spokesman, the chairman of NDMA has formed a task force to help these pregnant women. This task force will work together with the international and federal health agencies.

 LAHORE: The number of patients suffering from Dengue is increasing rapidly here, Geo News reported. According to the health department, 1,729 Dengue cases have been reported across Punjab with 1,555 cases being reported in Lahore alone.

Doctors said patients are being provided free treatment but only severe cases are being admitted. Residents of several areas of Lahore have complained that fumigation is not being conducted in their area, and if it is then the standard of spray is below par.

This prompted Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif to form a committee to check the standard of the spray being used for fumigation

 KARACHI: Rupee touched a record low level at 87.50 against dollar in the inter-bank market—weakest ever thus far traded, truly reflecting the downbeat economy, Geo News reported.

Forex market dealers said that the rupee continues depreciating against the dollar, which was seen appreciated by 11 paisa to reach the new high at Rs87.50, showing about 1.5 percent appreciation in the value of dollar since the beginning of the current fiscal year thus far.

Economists said that crude oil payment, low foreign investment, gas and power loadshedding and above all the worse law and order situation in the largest commercial and industrial hub Karachi hitting industrial production, curtailing exports thereby dollar inflow all together have kept the rupee at the tenterhook.

 MUMBAI: The Salman Khan-Kareena Kapoor film Bodyguard has broken the record of the Salman-Sonakshi Sinha movie Dabangg in just five days after its release.

Kareena is in seventh heaven. Back in the saddle as the No. 1 Bollywood diva, she says, I have three films on the list of the six highest grossing films in Hindi cinema. Bodyguard, 3-Idiots and Golmaal-3. I'm ecstatic.''

Kareena says Bodyguard has crossed 82 crore in just five days making it a mammoth hit and her biggest one. Trade sources say Bodyguard will not succeed in breaking the 3 Idiots overall record. But of course at this stage everything we speak on the subject is a conjecture.

As for Salman Khan, he is the No. 1 Khan and the No. 1 hero because he has Bodyguard, Dabangg and Ready on the list of the highest grossers. Aamir has 3 Idiots and Ghajini, while Ajay Devgn has Golmaal-3.

 NEW YORK: Three people were fatally shot and two New York City police officers were wounded on Monday night in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. One of the victims was a bystander, a 56-year-old woman, sitting on a stoop near where the violence erupted.

The shootings followed a weekend rife with gun violence. More than 30 people were wounded by firearms in the city over the holiday weekend, the authorities said.

The shooting on Monday night occurred just after 9 pm on Park Place near Franklin Avenue. The police said Leroy Webster, 32, a man described by officials as having an extensive criminal record, emerged from a building on Park Place with a Ruger 9 mm gun, which he fired at Eusi Johnson, 29, who was walking by with his cousin. Webster shot Johnson in the neck, killing him.

Webster also killed the bystander, Denise Gay, who died immediately, the police said, with her adult daughter next to her on a nearby stoop.

The police said Webster fired on officers who were in the area because of the West Indian Day Parade, which took place earlier in the day about four blocks away.

He was then killed by the police, they said.

Early Tuesday morning, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said the injured officers were Omar Medina, 35, who had shrapnel in his arm and side, and Avichaim Dicken, 29, whose left elbow was grazed by a bullet.

A 23-year-old bystander in Crown Heights who gave his name only as Peter said that Webster and Johnson had a prior disagreement that night.

 KARACHI: The Supreme Court Karachi Registry resumed hearing of the Karachi violence suo moto case on Tuesday, Geo News reported. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry ordered Advocate General Sindh to issue orders to appoint judges for Anti Terrorism and Banking courts within two days. The bench noted the shortage of judges in Sindh province.

A five-member special bench of the SC comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani, Justice Amer Hani Muslim and Justice Ghulam Rabbani is hearing the case. Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali asked why judges were not appointed even after the recommendations by the Chief Justice Sindh High Court in 2009 and 2011.

Earlier during proceedings, Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry remarked that the report of the joint investigation team on Ajmal Pahari raised questions about national sovereignty.

The Chief Justice asked the Advocate General and IG Sindh if they had read this report and if the country or government should be saved. The Chief Justice asked IG Sindh what measures he had taken after this report, since it contained information regarding the organization Pahari was affiliated with.

During his remarks the Chief Justice also said Karachi was the economic hub of Pakistan and the country could not progress unless the city was secure.

Justice Gulam Rabbani remarked that if no action was to be taken, then why were joint investigation teams formed? The chief justice asked IG Sindh if Kamran alias Maduhri was arrested in connection with the firing on police in Charka Goth, or had he been released. The IG replied that he was arrested, to which Justice Amir Hani Muslim asked if his charge sheet had been presented in the court. IG Sindh informed the court that Kamran was injured and thus could not be presented to which Justice Amir Hani Muslim replied that he should be presented with a medical certificate.

Also during proceedings SCBA President Asma Jehangir said the MQM had started extortion in Karachi and other parties had followed suit.

The hearing of the case was adjourned till Wednesday.

 KARACHI: Heavy rain lashed the metropolis on Tuesday, Geo News reported. Areas which received heavy rain included Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e- Johar, Malir, Baldia Town, Nursery, Sher Shah and North Karachi.

The rain broke the hot spell which had griped the city for the past three days, but came with a cost. Severe traffic jams are being reported on major roads of the city including I.I. Chundrigar Road and Shara-e-Faisal. Commuters have been stuck in these traffic jams for several hours and many vehicles have run out of petrol.

The Met office reports that 28 mm rain has been recorded in the airport area. Chief meteorologist Muhammed Riaz while speaking to Geo News said that this was a moderate spell and was expected to last till Wednesday.