Author: News Desk

  • Judges in England and Wales allowed to use ChatGPT to write judgments

    Judges in England and Wales allowed to use ChatGPT to write judgments

    Judges in England and Wales have been allowed to use artificial intelligence (AI) tool, Chat GPT, to write judgments.

    The permission has been granted despite concerns that artificial intelligence could write references to cases that never happened.

    The Judicial Office has issued guidelines for the use of AI Chat GPT for thousands of judges in England and Wales, saying that artificial intelligence can help summarise long texts.

    Master of the Rolls Sir Geoffrey Voss has described artificial intelligence as a better, faster and cost-effective digital assistant for the justice system.

    Only earlier this year, two American lawyers were fined for citing fake cases created by ChatGPT.

  • PPP leader Abdul Qadir Baloch proposes election delay in security challenged regions

    PPP leader Abdul Qadir Baloch proposes election delay in security challenged regions

    Former federal minister and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Abdul Qadir Baloch has recommended postponing the general elections in areas that are not safe or facing security challenges.

    The PPP leader said in an interview on Saturday that by-polls can be conducted in these areas later, stressing that it will not be good to postpone general elections due to just six or seven constituencies.

    “Attacks by TTP in Balochistan are way higher than those by Baloch separatists,” the PPP leader said, adding that the terrorist organisation often targets Kalat, Mastung, and neighbouring areas.

    He also said that security threats are real because Baloch separatists don’t believe in the politics of parliament, calling the elements a hurdle for politicians to run their election campaigns.

    Abdul Qadir Baloch then said that interior minister Sarfraz Bugti should not have publicly talked to the media about threats to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, adding that it’s the caretaker government’s responsibility to give security to all politicians.

  • ‘Puma’ will end sponsorship of Israeli football team

    Puma, the German company that manufactures sports products, has announced the end of its sponsorship of the Israeli football team.

    According to a report by Al Jazeera, Puma will end its sponsorship of Israel’s national football team in 2024, while a spokesperson from Puma said in a statement that the move had been planned since last year and was not related to the Gaza war and the ongoing boycott campaign against Israel.

    Puma has long faced calls to end its partnership with the Israel Football Association (IFA), but these demands have intensified amid Israeli brutality in Gaza.

    In a statement to Reuters, a Puma spokesman said the company’s contracts with several federations, including Serbia and Israel, were due to expire in 2024 and would not be renewed.

    The spokesperson said Puma will soon announce deals with several new teams as part of the improved strategy.

    Puma first struck a deal with the IFA to supply kits to Israeli players in 2018, with the sportswear firm facing calls for a boycott ever since.

    Media reports have claimed that Puma did not cite the Gaza war as the main reason for terminating the contract, but it seems that the company has taken this decision because of the growing global boycott campaign.

  • ‘Freedom is everyone’s right;’ Usman Khawaja shows solidarity with Palestine

    ‘Freedom is everyone’s right;’ Usman Khawaja shows solidarity with Palestine

    Before the first Test against Pakistan, Australia’s Usman Khawaja trained with the team wearing shoes with slogans of solidarity with the Palestinian people, ‘Freedom is everyone’s right and all lives are equal’. Usman Khawaja will wear the same shoes on the first day of the Test match against Pakistan.

    Keeping in view the International Cricket Council (ICC) rules and regulations, it is too early to say whether Usman Khawaja will be able to wear the shoes with the alleged political message.

    According to the ICC Code of Conduct, players and team officials are not allowed to wear armbands, clothing or display anything on any equipment that carries a political, religious, or ethnic message.

    Recently in World Cup 2023, Pakistani wicketkeeper batsman Muhammad Rizwan tweeted in favor of Gaza. A case was also filled against Rizwan in India for praying Namaz during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

    In 2014, England all-rounder Moin Ali was asked to remove a wristband with the words ‘Save Gaza’ and ‘Free Palestine’ during a Test match against India.

  • 24-karat gold price plunges by Rs1,800 per tola, reflecting global market trends

    24-karat gold price plunges by Rs1,800 per tola, reflecting global market trends

    On Tuesday, the price of gold experienced a further decline, with 24-karat gold witnessing a decrease of Rs1,800, settling at Rs213,600 per tola.  

    The Karachi Sarafa Association indicated that the closing rate for 10 grammes of 24-karat gold in today’s session was Rs183,128, reflecting a loss of Rs1,543.  

    Simultaneously, 10 grammes of 22-karat gold registered a decline to Rs167,867, down by Rs1,415. 

    Last week, gold investors in the domestic bullion market faced a significant setback when the price of 24-karat gold plummeted by Rs8,000 per tola.  

    This drop was attributed to a notable decrease in international prices and the strengthening of the local currency. 

    In contrast, the price of silver remained stable in the domestic market today, with 24-karat silver and 10 grammes of 24-karat silver closing at Rs2,600 and Rs2,229.08, respectively.  

    The downturn in the local market is linked to the ongoing decline in international prices. 

    The international spot gold market experienced a 1.04 per cent decrease this week, currently standing at $1,994.46.  

    This decline is influenced by the pressure stemming from a stronger dollar and increased US Treasury yields, marking the second consecutive session in which the commodity has traded in the red zone. 

    Market participants are eagerly anticipating the US consumer price report scheduled for 05:30 pm PST today.  

    This report could offer valuable insights into potential rate cuts ahead of the Federal Reserve’s statement and Chair Jerome Powell’s comments on Wednesday. 

    In the domestic market, gold prices are also susceptible to fluctuations in the local exchange rate.  

    Rupee remains stable against US dollar

    During yesterday’s interbank session, the Pakistani rupee (PKR) maintained stability, settling at PKR 283.9 per USD, representing a marginal depreciation of around 3 paisa against the US dollar compared to the previous session’s closing of PKR 283.87 per USD.  

    As gold is denominated in US dollars, a strengthening local unit contributes to a decrease in the value of PKR-denominated gold. 

  • Minister urges officials to use PBS monitoring app for ensuring price stability across provinces 

    Minister urges officials to use PBS monitoring app for ensuring price stability across provinces 

    In a bid to ensure consistent prices across provinces, Muhammad Sami Saeed, the Caretaker Minister for Planning, urged Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners on Tuesday to rigorously utilise the Decision Support System (DSS) app developed by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) for effective price monitoring. 

    According to a press release issued today, Muhammad Sami Saeed chaired a meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) in Islamabad.  

    The gathering focused on essential aspects such as the prices and supply of essential commodities, the margin between wholesale and retail prices, and the availability of necessary items. 

    During the meeting, the Chief Statistician from PBS presented the price movements of 51 essential items collected from the markets in 17 cities.  

    Minister Saeed stressed the importance of maintaining price stability across provinces and urged participants to oversee the supply of essential items, available stock levels, and pricing mechanisms. 

    Highlighting the critical role of administrative oversight and monitoring, Minister Saeed emphasised the need for vigilance in ensuring price stability.  

    The meeting also explored the potential utilization of remote sensing technology provided by SUPARCO to enhance monitoring of cropped areas and predict the supply situation of essential food items in the provinces. 

    Encouraging the exploration and implementation of remote sensing capabilities, the minister aimed to strengthen monitoring and oversight capacities.  

    He underscored the importance of continued vigilance and proactive measures to address fluctuations in commodity prices and ensure a smooth supply chain. 

    Representatives from the Ministry of Industries and Commerce, utility stores, and provincial governments attended the meeting, signifying a collaborative effort to maintain stability in commodity prices. 

  • State Bank of Pakistan maintains policy rate at 22% despite inflation concerns 

    State Bank of Pakistan maintains policy rate at 22% despite inflation concerns 

    The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) convened today to deliberate on the prevailing economic conditions and has resolved to maintain the policy rate at 22 per cent for the fourth consecutive meeting. 

    This decision aligns with market expectations, as a majority of market participants were in agreement regarding the rate remaining unchanged. 

    The Monetary Policy Statement issued by the central bank indicates that the decision takes into consideration the impact of the recent increase in gas prices on November’s inflation, which exceeded the MPC’s earlier projections.  

    The Committee acknowledged the potential implications of this on the inflation outlook while also noting offsetting factors such as the recent decline in international oil prices and the improved availability of agricultural produce. 

    Additionally, the Committee conducted an assessment indicating that the real interest rate remains positive over a 12-month forward-looking horizon and anticipates a downward trajectory for inflation. 

    Key developments since the October meeting were considered by the MPC. Firstly, the successful completion of the staff-level agreement for the first review under the IMF SBA programme, which is expected to unlock financial inflows and enhance the SBP’s foreign exchange serves, 

    Secondly, the quarterly GDP growth for Q1–FY24 met the MPC’s expectations for a moderate economic recovery. 

    Lastly, consumer and business confidence surveys reflected positive sentiment improvements. Lastly, core inflation persists at elevated levels, showing a gradual reduction. 

    Considering these developments, the Committee determined that the existing monetary policy stance is conducive to achieving the inflation target of 5-7 per cent by the end of FY25. 

    The Committee emphasised that this assessment is contingent on the sustained implementation of targeted fiscal consolidation and the timely realisation of planned external inflows. 

  • Tiktokers Maaz Safder, Kanwal Aftab slam Fahad Mustafa

    Tiktokers Maaz Safder, Kanwal Aftab slam Fahad Mustafa

    Popular TikTokers Maaz Safder and Kanwal Aftab have hit back at Fahad Mustafa’s recent criticism of YouTubers and lifestyle vloggers.


    In a recent episode of the “Nonstop Podcast,” Maaz Safder, joined by Kanwal Aftab and Jalal Karim, addressed Fahad Mustafa’s comments. Maaz Safder choose not to react immediately and highlighted the similarity in their work. He mentioned that everyone, including actors in films, have to support their families.


    Kanwal Aftab questioned the difference between selling something on social media and on television, pointing out that people on TV are also selling something. Host Jalal Karim added that family vlogging is usually watched by families, indicating its relatability.
    Maaz Safder further emphasized that normalizing slapping on television is not acceptable. It’s great to see influencers and vloggers standing up for themselves and expressing their perspectives.

  • NAWAZ IS FREE in Al Azizia Steel Mills Case

    NAWAZ IS FREE in Al Azizia Steel Mills Case

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday acquitted former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia reference, the biggest hurdle in the way of him contesting in the general elections.
    The only obstacle now for the former prime minister to contest an election is his lifetime disqualification as a parliamentarian.

    “It is unfortunate that if a former prime minister is facing such sham cases, then [we can’t imagine] what is happening to a common man,” senior lawyer Irfan Qadir told Geo News, calling upon the judges who convicted Nawaz to apologise to the nation.

    He also stated that, in response to the contentious Panama verdict, the Supreme Court had directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to initiate legal proceedings against Nawaz by filing references.

  • 23 soldiers martyred in a terrorist attack in DI Khan: ISPR

    23 soldiers martyred in a terrorist attack in DI Khan: ISPR

    At least 23 soldiers of the Pakistan army were martyred after militants attacked a checkpost with an explosive-laden truck in Khyber-Paktunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Tuesday.

    The ISPR added that the terrorists rammed the truck after their attempts to gain entry were “effectively thwarted”.
    “The attempt to enter the post was effectively thwarted which forced the terrorists to ram an explosive laden vehicle into the post, followed by a suicide bombing attack.

    “The resulting blasts led to the collapse of the building, causing multiple casualties; 23 brave soldiers embraced shahadat, while all six terrorists were effectively engaged and sent to hell,” the ISPR said.


    It added that sanitisation operations were being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists present in the area. “Security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthens our resolve,” the ISPR said.
    Separately, 17 terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation in the Darazinda area of Dera Ismail Khan.


    “During the conduct of the operation, terrorists’ hideout was busted and 17 terrorists were sent to hell,” the military’s media affairs wing said.


    ️ The ISPR further stated that two soldiers embraced martyrdom while four more terrorists were neutralised in another IBO in the Kulachi area.


    “️ The killed terrorists were actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces as well as killing of innocent civilians. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered during the operations,” it added.


    This is the military’s highest single-day death toll from terrorist attacks reported this year. Before this, 12 soldiers were martyred in separate military operations in the Zhob and Sui areas of Balochistan in July.