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Author: News Desk

  • Birth of endangered Somali Wild Ass offers hope for the species

    Birth of endangered Somali Wild Ass offers hope for the species

    The birth of a Somali Wild Ass foal was celebrated by a zoo in Chile as a significant development for the conservation of a critically endangered species.

    The rare kind of baby donkey was born last week, as reported by Reuters. There are fewer than 200 mature individuals remaining worldwide, with drastic decline in populations attributed to habitat loss and hunting for consumption or traditional medicinal purposes.

    The Buin Zoo, located in the outskirts of Santiago, is actively participating in an international endeavor aimed at revitalizing the Somali Wild Ass population, which has been classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

    The founder and director of the Buin Zoo expressed immense joy in sharing the news. He remarked, “It’s great news for the conservation of a wild donkey that is vanishing from the face of the Earth, and we have the capability to breed it here, at the edge of the world, in Chile.”

    The recent arrival of the foal marks the fifth specimen of its kind at the zoo.

  • PM orders foolproof measures for possible flood conditions in eastern rivers

    PM orders foolproof measures for possible flood conditions in eastern rivers

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gave orders to related authorities on Monday to make foolproof arrangements to tackle any possible flood in eastern rivers, including Ravi, Chenab and Sutlej.

    He has also gave orders to related departments to create awareness among the people about the possibility of flooding.

    Appreciating the personnel of Rangers and Rescue 1122 for immediate evacuation and assistance for the people trapped in flood waters in the Shakargarh area, the Prime Minister said that their actions helped save several people, including women and children.  

    “I along with the whole nation pay tribute to the country’s dutiful personnel”, he remarked.

    On Sunday, India released 185,000 cusecs of water in the river Ravi, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) confirmed. According to a report in Dunya News, the released water will reach the Shadra area of Lahore in the next 24 hours.

  • Remittances in June 2023 decline by 21.4%, hitting $2.2 billion: SBP

    Remittances in June 2023 decline by 21.4%, hitting $2.2 billion: SBP

    In June 2023, remittances experienced a year-on-year decrease of 21.4 per cent, falling to the $2.2 billion mark compared to $2.8 billion in June 2022, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

    Simultaneously, cumulative remittances sent by overseas Pakistanis for the 12-month period ending on June 30, 2023, diminished to $27 billion, reflecting a 14 per cent decline in the financial year 2022-23 when compared to the record-high inflows of $31 billion reported in the previous financial year.

    In terms of monthly trends, remittances received by the country from overseas Pakistanis increased by 3.85 per cent from $2.102 billion in May to $2.18 billion in June 2023.

    The primary sources of remittance inflows during June 2023 were Saudi Arabia ($515 million), the United Kingdom ($343 million), the United Arab Emirates ($325 million), and the United States ($272 million).

    Moreover, proceeds from expatriates residing in European Union countries showed an 11 per cent month-on-month increase in June 2023, amounting to $272 million. Similarly, remittances from other GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman) totaled $271.9 million.

    The decline in inflows reported for FY23 can be attributed to various austerity measures implemented by the coalition government and the banking regulator. These measures included high taxes on cash held in banks and exchange companies, aimed at increasing remittance collections.

    Import restrictions, coupled with unfavorable domestic economic conditions during FY23, had a detrimental impact on remittance inflows. These factors resulted in reduced demand and led to a diversion of a significant portion of expatriate inflows towards informal currency exchange channels.

    Fundamentally, the contraction in imports caused by policy measures, along with demand suppression, exchange rate depreciation, and the preference for undocumented channels to maximise profits, all contributed to curbing remittance inflows during FY23. As a consequence, the expatriate Pakistani community residing in various countries faced inadequate facilitation.

  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa businessmen threaten industrial shutdown amidst worsening law and order situation

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa businessmen threaten industrial shutdown amidst worsening law and order situation

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) business community has expressed their concerns regarding the unfavorable law and order conditions, threatening a potential shutdown of industrial operations.

    Malik Imran Ishaq, President of Hayyatabad Industrial State, highlighted the persistent issue of extortion demands faced by industrialists. He further stated that unidentified individuals resort to grenade attacks on residences and offices when businessmen fail to comply with the extortion demands.

    In light of these circumstances, the president of the KP industrialists association has urged the government to ensure adequate security measures, emphasising that failure to do so would force them to halt their industrial activities.

    The deteriorating law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province has become a cause for concern among businessmen and residents alike.

    As per available records, a total of 411 incidents were reported in the province in the year 2022, out of which 342 cases were filed in relation to extortion.

    Additionally, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) registered First Information Reports (FIRs) for 69 extortion incidents and successfully apprehended 173 individuals involved in extortion activities during the same year.

  • ‘Nawaz Sharif is a good man’; Shehzad Akbar changes tune

    ‘Nawaz Sharif is a good man’; Shehzad Akbar changes tune

    In a surprising turn of events, accountability tsar in the previous government, Shehzad Akbar, has changed tune on political opponent, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, calling him a “good man”, Neo has reported.

    Talking informally to journalists in London, Akbar, who spent his time in government trying to prove corruption cases against leaders of PML-N, blamed former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa for the “destruction” of the country.

    “I knew beforehand that our government will be overthrown. General (retd) Bajwa is responsible for the present state of the country,” he stated, before targeting the Prime Minister.

    “He has become addicted to the Prime Minister post,” Akbar said.

  • Solar storm to illuminate Northern Lights in 17 US states, offering skygazers a rare spectacle

    Solar storm to illuminate Northern Lights in 17 US states, offering skygazers a rare spectacle

    A solar storm anticipated for Thursday is set to provide residents in 17 American states with an extraordinary opportunity to witness the Northern Lights, AP has reported.

    A stunning celestial phenomenon known as the Northern Lights or aurora borealis results from the interaction of solar wind with the Earth’s atmosphere. Northern Lights materialize when a magnetic solar wind collides with the Earth’s magnetic field, leading to the luminosity of atoms in the upper atmosphere. These lights manifest abruptly and vary in intensity.

    The phenomenon is typically observed in regions such as Alaska, Canada, and Scandinavia, but are now becoming visible in more southerly locations due to the culmination of an 11-year solar cycle projected to peak in 2024. Approximately three months ago, these captivating light displays were witnessed in Arizona, marking the occurrence of the third severe geomagnetic storm since the commencement of the current solar cycle in 2019.

    The Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks has predicted heightened auroral activity on Thursday in Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Indiana, Maine, and Maryland. Additionally, Canada, including Vancouver, has also been forecasted to experience auroral activity.

    Auroral activity is assessed using the Kp geomagnetic index, which ranges from zero to nine, with zero representing minimal activity and nine indicating a vibrant and active display.

    The Geophysical Institute has predicted a Kp 6 ranking for Thursday’s upcoming storm.

  • Reporter of Daily Jang returns home day after appearance

    Reporter of Daily Jang returns home day after appearance

    Senior reporter of the Daily Jang, Syed Muhammad Askari, returned home on Monday after going missing on Saturday night, Geo News has reported.

    Askari had been picked up by police and personnel dressed in plain clothes. The incident was reported to the Baloch Colony Police Station. The journalist’s wife filed a complaint, accusing police and personnel in plainclothes of “abducting” Askari for no reason.

    She also stated in her application that the personals had their faces covered and were in a white vehicle. It was also mentioned in the application that Syed Muhammad Askari was abducted at 1:15 a.m. on Sunday.

    Shazia had requested the immediate release of her husband.

  • ‘I was not targeting anyone particularly’: Kajol provides clarification on ‘educated political leaders’ comment

    ‘I was not targeting anyone particularly’: Kajol provides clarification on ‘educated political leaders’ comment

    Bollywood actress Kajol recently said in an interview to The Quint that people are steeped in traditions, and politicians are uneducated which is why there isn’t a clear viewpoint on how to move forward in India:

    “You have political leaders who do not have an educational system background. I’m sorry but I’m going to go out and say that. I’m being ruled by leaders, so many of them, who do not have that viewpoint, which I think education does give you, at least the chance to look out for a different viewpoint.” 

    While some applauded the DDLJ actress for making a strong case for why its important to have educated leaders, some Twitter users were enraged by her comments and pointed out that Kajol herself was a school dropout.

    https://twitter.com/Kesariya_Meenu/status/1678107374186373120?s=20

    Kajol took to Twitter to post a clarification, saying that she was emphasising the importance of education, and was not targeting any politician.

    “I was merely making a point about education and its importance. My intention was not to demean any political leaders, we have some great leaders who are guiding the country on the right path.”

  • Five dead, over a dozen injured in gas cylinder blast in Jhelum hotel

    Five dead, over a dozen injured in gas cylinder blast in Jhelum hotel

    At least five people died and 15 others were injuredwhen a three-storey building collapsed due to a powerful gas cylinder explosion in Jhelum yesterday.

    The hotel is located on the Grand Trunk Road Jhelum, Punjab and collapsed after the cylinder exploded in the kitchen.

    Rescue officials said that approximately 15 injured have been recovered and shifted to the hospital and two critically injured have been taken to Rawalpindi.

  • Gen Faiz Hameed offered me Senate Chairmanship: Fazlur Rehman

    Gen Faiz Hameed offered me Senate Chairmanship: Fazlur Rehman

    Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) has revealed on Sunday that former spy chief General (retd) Faiz Hameed offered him the post of Chairman of the Senate during the tenure of the previous government.

    Talking with media personnel in Peshawar, Fazl quoted the former Director General (DG) of Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) as saying, “I want to see you a member of the Senate and then chairman [of the upper house of parliament].”

    Fazlur Rehman then accused the former members of the establishment of dividing the opposition after he refused to take up the spy master on his offer.

    He also confirmed that the current government will likely end it’s tenure next month. However, he expressed displeasure on not being taken into confidence by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on the recent meetings that took place between party head Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).