People want self-driving cars to prioritize young lives over the elderly

Today, MIT released the results of a global survey on the moral and ethical decisions that autonomous vehicles should be programmed to make. The survey reveals that general preferences include prioritizing human lives over animals, younger and healthier people over the elderly and saving more lives over fewer lives. People also preferred to spare bystanders (who were obeying the law) over jaywalkers.

The study is unique because of its sheer scale; over 2 million people from 200+ countries participated in the survey. It presented variations the "Trolley Problem," a classic ethical dilemma that asks participants to choose who to save in the event that an out-of-control trolley is endangering people. When it comes to autonomous vehicles, the software may have to prioritize whether to swerve into a group of people to avoid a head-on collision or decide whether to save its own passengers at the expense of lives in another vehicle.

While the survey results revealed general preferences, there were variations and trends based on where respondents were from. "The main preferences were to some degree universally agreed upon," lead author Edmond Awad, a postdoc at MIT, said in a release. "But the degree to which they agree with this or not varies among different groups or countries." An example is that in "eastern" countries, including many in Asia, respondents were not in favor of prioritizing young lives over the elderly.

The full results of the study will be published in the journal Nature. It will be interesting to see if autonomous vehicle programmers take results into account when determining the ethical and moral preferences of the vehicles they are working on.

China’s prestigious National Museum to display Jimmy Engineer’s art work

KARACHI: To further consolidate the decades-old Pak-China friendship and to further deepen the bond between the two countries, a donation of a historical work of art by renowned Pakistan artist, Jimmy Engineer, has been made to the National Art Museum of China, Beijing.

This is the first time ever any Pakistan artist’s work has been featured in China’s premiere museum. The Chinese Consulate in Karachi approached Jimmy Engineer to donate one of his works to China’s museum and after going through a vetting process, the museum accepted a masterpiece for their permanent collection.

The painting that has been selected for the museum is titled, ‘International Architectural Composition’. It is a 3 feet by 6 oil on canvas painting completed last year.

In the third week of March, the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing will be organising an art exhibition, featuring Jimmy Engineer’s work.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Masood Khalid, along with Jimmy Engineer will officially present the said painting to the National Art Museum of China.

Jimmy Engineer is an artist and social worker who has devoted his life to helping the less fortunate, especially disabled children, through his art.

He has organised and participated in a number of initiatives to raise funds for such causes.

“As an artist and social worker, I feel I have a responsibility to promote a positive image of Pakistan not only within the country but all over the world,” said Jimmy Engineer.

He has won around 85 commendation certificates and awards from different organizations across the globe including National Endowment of the Arts Award, USA in 1988, Gold Medal by International Cosmopolitan Rotary Club of Pakistan in 1997, Human Rights Medal by the Human Rights Society of Pakistan in 2000, Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2005 and The Peace Ambassador’s Medal by China World Peace Foundation Beijing in 2016.

 

Michael Jackson’s daughter slams tribute-makers for whitewashing

Paris Jackson – daughter of the late King of Pop Michael Jackson – has slammed Sky Arts’ Urban Myths for what can be called the latest coating of the film industry’s persistent whitewash.

In order to pay tribute to the legend, Sky Arts has a TV film under the wraps, for which it has cast a white actor – Joseph Fiennes – to bring the music icon to screen. Urban Myths, a compilation of assorted stories, includes a light comedy based on an unconfirmed road trip Jackson took post-9/11 with two of his friends: Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor.

Madame Tussauds unveils Amitabh Bachchan waxwork for Delhi opening

Madame Tussauds unveiled a waxwork of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan on Thursday ahead of the museum's opening later this year in the Indian capital of New Delhi.

Bachchan, 74, is one of Indian cinema's most revered and influential actors and has been a mainstay on screens for five decades.

"We looked at the culture and of course, we have a lot of Indian visitors in our existing attractions as well. Their feedback is so positive ... that we said we need to be there," Marcel Kloos, Merlin Entertainments' director of new openings in emerging markets said.

Guests at the unveiling photographed themselves alongside Bachchan, as well as with a waxwork of American popstar Lady Gaga.

The Delhi branch above the city centre’s famed Regal Cinema is India's first Madame Tussauds, the museum's twenty-third globally and its ninth in Asia, where a growing middle class are prepared to pay to see wax figures of their favourite stars.

Wax statues of leading figures from Bollywood, sports and politics will feature in Delhi including one of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi - who is already in the London branch - as well as cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar.

 

Sounds of Kolachi all set to mesmerise fans at Karachi Eat

KARACHI: Sounds of Kolachi will be performing live today at the Karachi Eat Festival. A 10-member band, it quickly carved a niche for itself in the local music scene.

Shah Rukh Khan gushes over Raees co-star Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Shah Rukh Khan seems to be all busy with promotion of his upcoming movie ‘Raees’, but much to his co-stars’ delight, he still manages to take some time out to appreciate them.

Shahrukh Khan had his question and answer session with fans on Twitter on Thursday. One of the social media users asked him his opinion of co-star Nawazuddin.

“Nawazuddin is a gem of an actor and too much fun to work with,” Shahrukh reportedly tweeted.

Shah Rukh Khan portrays a famous bootlegger in the film with Nawazuddin playing the role of an adamant policeman trying to hunt him down.

Raees also features Pakistani actress Mahira Khan in a leading role and is slated to be released on January 25.

Pakistan May Develop JF-18 Stealth Fighter with China

Pakistani engineers and scientists are thinking about to redesign JF17 Thunder jet fighter as stealth jet fighter. Minor and Major changes in this version of jet fighter may help to make it stealthy. As Stealth technology is becoming more important day by day and after a decade the it will be essential for Pakistan to have stealthy versions of jet fighters to fight with the India. May be Pakistan will design a new version of aircraft as named JF 18 jet fighters. But no official statement of the government has announced. But may be Pakistan has already started the project in China

Musharraf wants to return if provided foolproof security

KARACHI: The Anti-terrorism court (ATC) accepted a petition by Former President and Army Chief General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf asking for foolproof security if he comes back to Pakistan.

Musharraf had submitted a petition in the ATC saying he wanted to come home provided he gets foolproof security.

During the proceedings of the Judges Detention case on Friday, the ATC ruled that Musharraf will be declared a proclaimed offender if he does not appear in court on February 9.

The court ordered the Interior Ministry and IG Islamabad to ensure security for the former dictator.

In March 18, 2016 Musharraf left Pakistan for Dubai, complaining of health issues. While in Pakistan, he was exempted from appearing in the court after he submitted a medical report where his doctors advised him rest.

China expresses satisfaction over CPEC security

RAWALPINDI: Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, Mr Sun Weidong met Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Bajwa at GHQ today (Friday), Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

The visiting dignitary conveyed China’s satisfaction on security arrangements for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Mr Sun Weidong also acknowledged and lauded Pakistan’s efforts in fighting terrorism and extremism.

Other matters of mutual interest including regional security were also discussed during the meeting.

Sindh Governor Saeed-uz-Zaman laid to rest

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Justice (Retd) Saeed-uz-Zaman was laid to rest with state honours.

Funeral prayers for the governor held at the Governor House on Friday were attended by Acting Governor Agha Siraj Durrani, Corps Commander Karachi, DG Rangers Sindh and other important personalities.

The Governor passed away on Wednesday after prolonged illness. He was 79.

The Governor was admitted to a private hospital just days after taking oath. At the time it was reported that he was suffering from a chest infection and breathing problems, however, the Governor House spokesman had stressed that the ailment was not serious and that the Governor was out of danger.

Justice (retd) Saeed uz Zaman Siddiqui was appointed as the 31st Governor after it was decided to replace Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan during a meeting between President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Geo News had reported earlier.

Zaman had served as the Chief Justice of Pakistan from July 1999 till December 2005. During the rule of former dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, Zaman had refused to take oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO).

In 2008 he also ran as a presidential candidate from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

Syed suggests death penalty for politicians consuming alcohol

ISLAMABAD: Awami National Party (ANP) Senator Shahi Syed Friday suggested death penalty to politicians who drink alcohol, while Rehman Malik demanded a mandatory DNA test for them.

Senate Standing Committee on Interior met on Friday here, with Senator Rehman Malik in the chair. The meeting had discussions on local and foreign booze.

"Parliamentarians represent the people and if they are not punished for doing a wrong thing then why should poor people be?" he questioned, adding that politicians should be hanged to death for consuming liquor, while a lay man should face 6 months or a year in prison.

Asked about marijuana, he said, "People call it darwesh's intoxicant, but that too is wrong and should also be prohibited".

On the occasion, Rehman Malik said that all politicians should undergo a DNA test, adding, "It should be declared whether someone ever consumed alcohol, marijuana or opium, prior to contesting an election".

He was complimented by Syed that if this happened then majority of politicians would be disqualified. The ANP senator regretted that a Hindu is named for selling and consuming liquor, but it is actually done by a Muslim.

Javed Abbasi said whoever produces and sells moonshine it is illegal.

Consuming and selling liquor is prohibited in Pakistan; it's sale, however, is permitted to people of other religions through licensed liquor stores.

There have also been numerous casualties in the wake of locally-prepared toxic moonshine on a number of occasions.

Pakistan rejects allegations of safe havens in FATA

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday outrightly rejected allegations of terrorists' safe havens in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) saying that it does not allow its territory to be used for attacks against any other country.

"Pakistan's contribution to the international community's fight against terrorism and the sacrifices that we rendered have been acknowledged by the world including the US, at various levels of their leadership, EU and others," said a spokesperson for the Foreign Office, in response to media queries regarding allegations of safe havens in FATA.

"Pakistan has lost thousands of its citizens and suffered economic losses worth over $100 billion due to the menace of terrorism."

The successes of Zarb e Azb are manifested in the improved security and economic situation in Pakistan, particularly near Pakistan-Afghanistan border, he maintained.

The spokesperson stated that the results of our military action were there for everyone to see through peace and stability at our borders with Afghanistan, recounting, "The US parliamentarians and US commanders have visited the FATA and publicly acknowledged the successes of Pakistan's counterterrorism drive".

Afghanistan is infested with many terrorist organisations due to the instability there, which has created space for the terrorist elements such as Haqqani Network's leadership, TTA, TTP, Daesh, al-Qaeda, Jamaat ul Ahraar and others, he said.

"It is therefore not appropriate to blame others for the adversities due to deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan," he stated, maintaining the often repeated claims regarding safe havens were therefore more of a rhetoric than anything else.

"We wish to reemphasize that some foreign elements are exploiting the situation and using Afghan soil against Pakistan in particular and the region at large. The activities of RAW-NDS nexus remains a matter of deep concern to Pakistan," he underlined.

He said Pakistan remains committed to peace efforts in Afghanistan as it is not only in the interest of the region, but more importantly to Pakistan itself.

"It is unfortunate that our sincere efforts towards stability in Afghanistan are being maligned," the spokesman deplored, adding that Pakistan wants peace and stability in Afghanistan.

"We are engaged in border management which is imperative for effective counterterrorism."

Pakistan will continue its policy of cooperation with international community to defeat the menace of terrorism, read the statement.

"We will not indulge in blame game and expect others to do the same," he concluded.

Pakistan's largest ever Trade Expo kicks off in Colombo

COLOMBO: Pakistan's largest ever trade exhibition opened at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) on Friday.

The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) in collaboration with High Commission of Pakistan in Sri Lanka oorganised2nd edition of Pakistan Single Country Exhibition that is jointly opened.

According to the Pakistan High Commission, High Commissioner Maj. Gen. (R) Syed Shakeel Hussain along with Chief Guest Minister for Sports Dayasiri Jayasekera, Minister for Plantation Industries Navin Dissanayake, Minister for Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Gayantha Karunathilaka, Minister for Law & Order and Southern Development Sagala Ratnayake inaugurated the Pakistan Single Country Exhibition 2017.

Expo is featuring leading Pakistani companies and manufacturers of Engineering Products, Auto Parts, Agro Products, Textile & Clothing, Designer Wear, Handicraft & Traditional Textiles, Pharmaceuticals, Cutlery Furniture, Carpets Marble and Services.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, the High Commissioner of Pakistan Maj.Gen. (R) Syed Shakeel Hussain informed the audience that the exhibition was launched last year with a view to make it an annual event that should work as a catalyst for synergizing deeper economic relations between the two countries.

Want to be a police officer when I grow up, says torture victim Tayyaba

ISLAMABAD: Child maid Tayyaba who was subjected to gruesome torture by her employers now vows to join the police force when she grows up.

“I will hit those who hit me,” said Tayyaba.

The Supreme Court earlier this week decided that Tayyaba will stay at Pakistan Sweet Homes, an orphanage, till her parents are identified.

The little girl could be seen in a clean pair of clothes, a red hairband holding her hair back-- a stark contrast from the rags she wore when she was first recovered. The wounds on her eye and lip had visibly healed, but a white bandage tightly wrapped her hand.

Her employer, additional session judge Islamabad Raja Khurram Ali Khan, will undergo another inquiry, sources informed Geo News on Friday.

The inquiry will be headed by a high court judge, the sources added.

Chief Justice Islamabad High Court (IHC) and other judges barred Raja Khurram Ali Khan from judicial duties, according to a notification on Thursday.

Khurram has been directed to serve as an OSD immediately in IHC, according to the notification.

Prior to this, Registrar IHC had also carried out an inquiry against the additional session judge.

Tayyaba’s case caught the media's attention after she was recovered from the residence of Additional Sessions Judge Raja Khurram Ali Khan, early this month.

According to a medical report, 22 torture marks were found on Tayyaba’s body, including marks from bruises and burns. A wound measuring one square centimetre was also found next to her right eye. The report also stated that the 10-year-old Tayyaba suffers from mental stress but her condition is improving gradually.

The minor girl, whose face and hands bore torture marks, had initially denied being hurt by her employers. She told the police that she got a wound to her eye after falling from the stairs, while her hand was also burnt accidentally.

However, the poor girl narrated her ordeal after being politely inquired by a female magistrate later. She stated before the magistrate that she was beaten and her hand was burnt on the stove for losing the broom.

Things took a turn, the matter was settled out of court last week and, according to the child’s father, the parents had forgiven the actions in the way of the Almighty.

The Chief Justice took suo moto notice of the case, however, the child and her father mysteriously disappeared then.

After the Supreme Court ordered that the child be produced in court, police sprung into action. Tayyaba was recovered from the suburbs of Islamabad on Sunday.

Organisers call off Karachi Eat Day 1 due to rain

KARACHI: Organisers have called off Day 1 festivities of Karachi Eat 2017 - one of the most-visited and talked-about events of the metropolis - due to heavy rain that lashed the city on Friday.

The three-day event is set to have around 95 stalls, with an expected 70,000-100,000 visitors.

The first day of the event went as planned despite an early rain on Friday, but the organisers called it off as rain again lashed the megapolis in the evening.

The plan for the next two days of the festival will soon be announced, say organisers.

The Met Office has forecasted that the spell is likely to continue until Sunday.

PM Nawaz directs to continue subsidy on fertilizers

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif on Friday directed for the continuation of subsidy on fertilisers.

He said that agriculture is back bone of the national economy and farmers play a pivotal role in strengthening the economy of the country.

The Prime Minister said farmers will be provided all the basic facilities for improvement in GDP of the country.

The federal government earlier had announced withdrawal of subsidy on fertiliser. However, Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif had requested restoration of the subsidy.

Meanwhile, Director Agriculture Extension Rana Ahmad Munir ordered officials to ensure the sale of fertilisers in the market at control price and take action against dealers in case of violation.

He said this during visits to different fertilisers shops in rural areas including Qasba Lar, Qasba Maral and tahsil Shujabad where he checked fertilisers stock and relevant record, says a release issued by agriculture spokesman.

Deputy director agriculture extension Chaudhry Naseer Ahmad and other officials accompanied him on the occasion.

Traffic jams as rainy spell resumes in Karachi

KARACHI: The flow of traffic was badly affected after a spell of first winter rain in Karachi resumed on Friday evening.

Light and heavy rain again lashed several areas of Karachi, including II Chundrigar Road, Gulistan e Jauhar, Airport, Malir, Sharah e Faisal and Gulshan Iqbal.

The rain triggered snarl-ups in many areas.

Long queues of vehicles were seen at Shahrah e Faisal - the busiest thoroughfare of the city - as rain water accumulated on it.

Commuters faced immense difficulty in reaching their destinations.

Three killed in rain-related incidents
Slippery roads also resulted in accidents, with two people reportedly killed in Nazimabad.

Another man was electrocuted in Korangi area, officials and rescue sources said.

Angry Trump blames US intelligence for 'phony' Russia dossier

WASHINGTON: President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday angrily denounced the publishing of claims he had been caught in a compromising position in Russia and attacked U.S. intelligence agencies over the leak of the information.

"I think it was disgraceful, disgraceful that the intelligence agencies allowed any information that turned out to be so false and fake out there," Trump told a news conference. He called the dossier that makes salacious claims about him "fake news" and "phony stuff."

"I think it's a disgrace ... That's something that Nazi Germany would have done," the Republican said days ahead of his inauguration.

Trump acknowledged that Russia likely hacked the Democratic National Committee and the emails of other top Democrats during the 2016 presidential election, but defended his goal of better ties with Moscow.

"If Putin likes Donald Trump, I consider that an asset, not a liability," Trump told about 250 reporters jammed into the lobby at his New York offices.

Trump, who said he hoped for a good relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin but could not guarantee it, said he had asked intelligence officials for a report on defenses against hacking in 90 days.

UNSUBSTANTIATED ALLEGATIONS

The dossier that emerged late on Tuesday was first reported by CNN. BuzzFeed published the full document.

Two U.S. officials said the allegations, which one called "unsubstantiated," were contained in a two-page memo appended to a report on Russian interference in the 2016 election that was presented last week to Trump and to President Barack Obama.

The president-elect has long said he hopes to improve ties with Moscow, but his plans have come under intense scrutiny after U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russia used cyber attacks and other tactics to try to tilt the election in his favor over Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

The real estate developer used the news conference to describe how he will separate himself from his global business operations to avoid conflicts of interest once he takes office.

He also talked about how he plans to bring manufacturing jobs back from overseas plants, slamming drug companies for "getting away with murder" on pricing.

U.S. stocks slipped to session lows, before recovering ground, as healthcare stocks took a beating following Trump's comments on drug pricing in his first formal news conference since his Nov. 8 victory.

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Dream of Syria ceasefire far from realisation

DAMASCUS: With the dream of Russia and Turkey-brokered truce in Syria far from realisation, the hopes of Syrian people about Astana talks have been dying with every passing day.

Talks on Syria´s political future will now take place in Kazakhstan´s capital Astana on January 23, a source in the Russian foreign ministry said Wednesday. But previous reports suggested they had been postponed to March.

"At this time there is no indication that the meeting will be postponed. The date of January 23 is set," the source said of the negotiations to be hosted by Russia and Turkey between the Syrian government and rebel groups.

But, the latest hurdle in the way of Kazakhstan talks on Syria comes in the form of a Syrian Kurd group, which the United States wants to be made part of the talks, but Turkey - which is hosting negotiations - considers it a terrorist outfit.

There are nearly 100 opposition groups and nothing has yet been clear as to which groups will be invited to talks and things lie in a crude state pertaining to negotiations.

The diplomatic source said Wednesday that current preparations for the peace talks involve compiling a list of participants.

Some groups have already expressed concern over whether the meeting will be fully representative, with the Syrian Kurds, crucial Western allies in the Syrian war but despised by Turkey, on Tuesday saying they were not invited.

Ceasefire
Syrian government aircraft pounded rebels and their allies in northern Syria overnight, a monitor said Wednesday, as Moscow announced new peace talks to be held in Kazakhstan on January 23.

Air raids targeted the rebel strongholds of Atarib and Khan al-Assal in Aleppo province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.  It had no immediate word on any casualties.

Since the ceasefire went into effect on December 30, the regime´s strikes on rebel strongholds have eased but have not stopped completely.

Battle for Damascus water continues
Assad´s forces have been battling rebels in Wadi Barada, the capital´s main water source in the northwest, for weeks and the fighting has continued despite ceasefire.

Millions of people have been without mains water for weeks after fighting damaged key infrastructure.

President Bashar al-Assad has claimed that Fateh al-Sham forces are present in the area, a charge rebels deny.

On Tuesday, the regime sent reinforcements to Wadi Barada, the Observatory said without providing further details.

"The role of the Syrian army is to liberate that area in order to prevent the rebels from using that water in order to suffocate the capital," Assad told French media in an interview aired on Monday.

Trump to cede 'complete' control of business to sons

Donald Trump said Wednesday he had formally handed "complete and total" control of his business empire to his adult sons, Don Jr and Eric, in a bid to avoid conflicts of interest once he enters the White House.

The 70-year-old Trump, who is the wealthiest man to become US president, has been beset by accusations of conflict of interest ever since his electoral defeat of Democratic former secretary of state Hillary Clinton in November.

The Trump Organization, whose network of hotels, golf clubs and luxury residential towers stretches across 20 countries, is not listed on the stock market, and thus releases no public statistics.

Trump, who takes over the White House on January 20, has thus far not released his tax returns, meaning relatively little is known about the extent of its interests.

"My two sons, who are right here, Don and Eric, are going to be running the company. They are going to be running it in a very professional manner. They're not going to discuss it with me," the president-elect told a news conference.

Trump said he had signed documents "turning over complete and total control to my sons," before handing the stage to his lawyer, who outlined the future structure of the Trump Organization.

No new foreign deals

The attorney, Sheri Dillon, said a plan had been devised to "completely isolate" Trump from the management of his business during his presidency, adding that "no new foreign deals will be made whatsoever" while he is in the White House.

All pending deals -- more than 30 -- were cancelled, causing "an immediate financial loss of millions of dollars" to Trump and his children, said Dillon, a partner in Washington law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.

The plan also requires an ethics advisor to review and give written approval to any "new deals, actions, and transactions that can potentially raise ethics or conflicts of interest concerns," she said.

Trump is "committed to ensuring that activities of the Trump Organization are beyond reproach and cannot be perceived to be exploitative of the office of the presidency."

Don Jr, 38, and Eric, 32, are Trump's eldest sons from his first marriage. They are currently executive vice presidents in the Trump Organization.

Longtime Trump associate Allen Weisselberg, currently the company's chief financial officer, will assist them in running the business, according to Dillon.

Trump will resign from all officer and other positions he holds in his businesses, and daughter Ivanka, whose husband Jared Kushner will be a special adviser to the president, will have no further involvement in the business.

Dillon said a blind trust would not have resolved all the potential conflicts of interest, adding that divestiture or sale, which she argued is not required of a president as of other government officials, "isn't even feasible."

"In sum, all of these actions -- complete relinquishment of management, no foreign deals, ethics adviser approval of deals, sharply limited information rights -- will sever President-elect Trump's presidency from the Trump Organization," she said.

In addition, Trump will donate all the proceeds from any foreign government officials to his hotels to the US Treasury.

According to PrivCo, which seeks to provide financially and business information on private companies, The Trump Organization employs about 22,000 people and had revenues of $9.5 billion in 2014.

#nopressure

Trump closed his press conference with a warning to his sons.

"I hope at the end of eight years I'll come back and say, oh, you did a good job. Otherwise, if they do a bad job, I'll say, 'You're fired!'" he said, using his signature line from his reality television show "The Apprentice."

Don Jr tweeted a reply shortly afterwards.

"Well, this could be interesting in 4 to 8 years. #nopressure," he wrote.