DINA for the issue of December 26, 2013

	December 26, 2013 | Safar 22, 1435
The DAWN Internet News Alert (DINA) is a free daily news service from Pakistan’s largest English language newspaper, the Daily DAWN.
North Waziristan appears close to full-blown conflict By Ismail Khan GUNS have fallen silent in Mirali -- a bustling town 35km to the east of North Waziristan’s regional headquarters of Miramshah, but now with rows of burnt down and bombed shops and houses.	For suggestions and comments: Email: webmaster@dawn.com Website: http://dawn.com Fax: +92(21) 35693995
Minister urges uniform curriculum By Khawar Ghumman ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to set up a National Curriculum Commission (NCC) to ensure that the provinces follow a uniform course of study in schools and colleges. The Minister of State for Education, Training and Standards in Higher Education, Muhammad Balighur Rehman, has written a letter to the chief ministers, saying that lack of coordination among the provincial curriculum development departments is creating discrepancies in the quality and content of the courses.
Drone strike kills four in N. Waziristan By Pazir Gul MIRAMSHAH: Four people were killed and one man was injured in a US drone attack near Miramshah in the North Waziristan tribal region late on Wednesday night. Reports said that the drone fired two missiles at a house in Qutubkhel area, some 5km from Miramshah, leaving four men dead and injuring another.
Working boundary tensions to be reduced By Our Staff Reporter LAHORE: The bi-annual meeting between senior officials of Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) and India’s Border Security Force continued for a second day at the Rangers Headquarters here on Wednesday. Sources told Dawn that both sides, which met after one and a half years, agreed to resolve the issues of unprovoked firing by the BSF on the working boundary, airspace violation by Indian helicopters and spy planes, prevention of inadvertent border-crossing and killing of innocent citizens.
Attempt to smuggle weapons to Karachi foiled By Our Staff Correspondent QUETTA: The Levies Force claimed to have foiled on Wednesday an attempt to smuggle a huge quantity of illegal arms and ammunition from Balochistan to Karachi. Sources said Levies personnel intercepted a pick-up at a checkpost near Kirdgap area of Mastung district and during search found illegal weapons, including 62 AK-47 rifles, 30 pistols of different types and thousands of rounds.
Eight mine workers kidnapped in Harnai By Our Staff Correspondent QUETTA: Eight workers were kidnapped from a coal field in Harnai district on Wednesday. More than 10 armed men stormed a camp of a private company in Shahrag area early in the morning, awakened the eight sleeping workers and whisked them away.
Pope prays for a better world VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis offered a Christmas wish on Wednesday for a better world, praying for protection for Christians under attack, battered women and trafficked children, peace in the Middle East and Africa, and dignity for refugees fleeing misery and conflict around the globe. Pope Francis delivered the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” (Latin for “to the city and to the world”) speech from the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica to 70,000 cheering tourists, pilgrims and Romans in the square below. He said he was joining all those hoping “for a better world”.
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