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Author: News Desk

  • First ever retirement ceremony organised to honor police dogs

    First ever retirement ceremony organised to honor police dogs

    A ceremony was organised for the first time to honor police dogs retired from service at the Central Police Office (CPO) in Lahore on Friday.

    The retried police dogs were presented with a service badge as a symbol of admiration of the heroic efforts they have made for the safety of the people of Pakistan. They were then adopted by families and went to their new homes.

    An animal welfare organization, JFK Animal Rescue And Shelter, shared some clips from the event on their Instagram and declared this to be an important day for animal rights. They explained in the post that previously, when Pakistani police dogs retired from service, they were euthanised after they turned 8 years old.

    “This is a very old practice that prevailed all over Pakistan because they are deemed useless after retirement regardless of their superior intellect and hard work,” the post said.

    JFK was very proud to announce that a historic MOU was signed with the Punjab Police to end the practice of euthanizing sniffer dogs, under which the dogs will no longer be put to sleep but be put up for adoptions three months prior to their retirement date and the adoptions will take place with the help of JFK.

    They further appreciated the Punjab police and IG Punjab for a wonderful step and showing concern for animals.

  • Pak-US relations back to normal: PM Shehbaz

    Pak-US relations back to normal: PM Shehbaz

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday that Pakistan wants to improve its mutual relations with the US in multiple fields. He further added that the relations between the nations are “back to normal” now.

    Addressing a ceremony of celebration of the 247th Independence Day of the US, Sharif said that Pakistan and the US made many efforts to make their relations better by putting aside any misgivings and misunderstandings.

    “Over the last 75 years, our relations have had ups and downs, but on the whole, we have been very good friends,” he stated.

    He said that the US was the largest trading partner of Pakistan, and both countries have played a major role in the war against terrorism.

    The prime minister also appreciated US support for 2022 flood victims. “We value the support of the US, which had been the biggest donor and very helpful in providing relief to millions of flood-affected people,” he observed.

    The US ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Blome, said in his remarks that the economic partnership between the countries is expanding.

    Shehbaz Sharif also congratulated US President Joe Biden and the people of the United States on their 247th Independence Day.

  • Britney Spears assaulted by NBA player’s security guard

    Britney Spears assaulted by NBA player’s security guard

    Pop star Britney Spears has been physically assaulted by a security guard of NBA’s Victor Wembayana at ARIA Hotel where she was dining with her husband Sam Asghari. Sources report that the singer tried to approach the basketball player for a picture, tapping him on the shoulder to catch his attention, when the security guard member shoved her in the face.

    According to US Weekly, the head of the security team later went to Britney and apologised, but the singer’s team has filed a police case against the guard.

    Spears addressed the incident on her Instagram, detailing how she had approached the athlete in the hotel by tapping on his shoulder and was hoping to congratulate him on his success, countering his statement that she grabbed him from behind. She was back handed in the face by his security team. Spears also revealed that she has yet to receive an apology from the athlete:

    “Physical violence is happening too much in this world. Often behind closed doors. I stand with all the victims and my heart foes out to all of you!! I have yet to get a public apology from the player, his security or their organisation. I hope they will…”

    She also slammed Wembayana for laughing away the matter:

    “Watching the player smile and laugh was cruel and demoralizing with the situation that took place. I am 5’3 and he’s 7’4.”

    Spear’s husband, Sam Asghari, took to his Instagram stories to condemn the act of violence on his wife:

    “I am opposed to violence in any form, especially without justification in the defence of yourself or someone else who is unable to defend themselves. Self-defence can be unavoidable, but the defense of any woman, especially my wife, is not debatable. I consider my reaction subdued considering what ocurred, and I hope the man in question learns a lesson and changes his disregard for women.”

  • Kiara Advani learned how to make an unusual dish to win over Sidharth’s mother

    Kiara Advani learned how to make an unusual dish to win over Sidharth’s mother

    Desi mothers-in-law have to be impressed by prospective bahus, and being a Bollywood A-list actress won’t spare you from the ordeal.


    While doing press rounds for promoting her film ‘Satyaprem Ki Katha’, Kiara Advani told Mirchi Puls about how she bonded with her mother-in-law, Sidharth Malhotra’s mother, with the help of an unusual dish.

    Advani, well known for her love of pani-puri, known in Pakistan as gol gappay, said that she learned how to make the dish for the first day she visited Mumbai:

     “Of course. Meri mother-in-law jo hain, unko pani puri itna pasand hai! Woh abhi humare saath reh rahi hain, Mumbai mein aayi hui hain Delhi se. So, on her first day, mujhe pata hai ki unko pani puri kitna pasand hai, I said aaj ghar mein hum pani puri banayenge. Jo maska lagaya… I knew she will love me to another level. She was so happy.”

    Sidharth and Kiara, who starred together in ‘Shershaah’ in 2021, got married in February in a star-studded wedding with celebrities like Karan Johar, Juhi Chawla and Shahid Kapoor in attendance. In a previous interview, Advani spoke about how happy she was in her bride era, and called Sidharth her home:

    “I got married recently, and it was a love marriage. So naturally, I believe in true love. A home is made by two people and I feel incredibly lucky that my partner, the man I have chosen, my husband is also my best friend. He is my everything, my home. Wherever I am, he is my family, my home.”

  • State Bank of Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves surge to $4.46 billion with $393 million increase

    State Bank of Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves surge to $4.46 billion with $393 million increase

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has announced an increase of $393 million in its foreign exchange reserves, bringing the total to $4.46 billion. In an official statement, the central bank stated that this rise occurred on June 30, 2023. The boost in reserves is seen as a positive development for the country’s economy.

    At the same time, the overall liquid foreign reserves held by Pakistan now stand at $9.74 billion, with commercial banks accounting for $5.28 billion of that amount. These figures reflect the country’s efforts to stabilise its foreign reserves and strengthen its financial position.

    This increase in foreign exchange reserves is largely attributed to Pakistan’s recent agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The country signed a staff-level agreement with the IMF, amounting to $3 billion, for a duration of 9 months. The IMF’s “Stand-By Arrangement” with Pakistan has been successfully concluded, signaling a positive outlook for the nation’s economic stability.

    Nathan Porter, the IMF Mission Chief, commended Pakistan for its commitment to achieving its economic goals and acknowledged the parliament’s crucial role in this accomplishment. He emphasised that the staff-level agreement under the Stand-By Arrangement is a significant milestone.

    The agreement is now awaiting final approval from the IMF’s executive board, which is anticipated to occur in mid-July. Once approved, Pakistan will be eligible to receive the $3 billion loan from the IMF.

    In his remarks, Porter highlighted the parliament’s efforts to enhance tax revenues, an essential component of Pakistan’s economic growth. The parliament has taken noteworthy steps to increase funds allocated to the Benazir Income Support Programme and has also limited tax exemptions.

    These measures are expected to lead to an increase in tax revenues, which, in turn, could result in a primary surplus of 0.4 per cent for Pakistan’s economy. The additional funds generated through these increased tax revenues can then be directed towards crucial social sectors.

    Overall, the increase in foreign exchange reserves for the State Bank of Pakistan is an encouraging sign for the country’s economic stability. With the IMF agreement on the horizon and the parliament’s dedication to boosting tax revenues, Pakistan is poised to make significant strides in its economic development.

    The final approval of the agreement by the IMF’s executive board will mark a crucial milestone in Pakistan’s journey towards a more prosperous future.

  • Woman forced to drink acid by husband, father-in-law

    Woman forced to drink acid by husband, father-in-law

    Trigger Warning: Acid attack

    A woman in Islamabad was forced to drink acid by her husband and father-in-law over a trivial issue.

    Police said the incident was reported on Thursday at Malot area of the capital city. The dispute started during a discussion related to milk for a child, upon which the husband Wahab, along with his father Abid Ali, tortured the woman and attempted to kill her.

    The officials further said Abid Ali grabbed her while Wahab brought acid from the washroom and forced it down her throat. The suspects escaped afterwards. The woman was shifted to a hospital as her condition worsened.

    A case has been filed by the acid attack survivor at the Police Station Bani Gala.

  • PAC orders investigation into data leak of military officials

    PAC orders investigation into data leak of military officials

    The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has on Thursday expressed apprehensions over the data leak of citizens and of military officials from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

    PAC ordered the Ministry of Interior to conduct a joint investigation into the data leak. Pakistan Tele-communication Authority (PTA), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and Military Intelligence (MI) should be included in the investigation team, PAC Chairman Noor Alam Khan said.

    Noor Alam Khan also asked PTA to block the data online, stating, “Everyone’s personal data is available on the internet. Data of military authorities has also been leaked. How was it leaked from NADRA?”

  • Drop everything now: Taylor Swift releases Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

    Drop everything now: Taylor Swift releases Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

    This night is sparkling as at long last, Taylor Swift finally released her third rerecorded album Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) which also features six previously unreleased songs from the vault tracks.

    “It’s an album I wrote alone about the whims, fantasies, heartaches, dramas and tragedies I lived out as a young woman between 18 and 20. I remember making tracklist after tracklist, obsessing over the right way to tell the story. I had to be ruthless with my choices, and I left behind some songs I am still unfailingly proud of now,” Taylor wrote in a statement announcing the album’s release.

    The rerecorded album follows Fearless and Red as Taylor attempts to take back control of her musical legacy when she was denied the opportunity to own her original masters by her record label Big Machine Records in 2019, a decision she detailed on a Tumblr post as the “worst case scenario” when news spread that the masters were sold to Scooter Braun:

    “This is my worst case scenario. This is what happens when you sign a deal at fifteen to someone for whom the term ‘loyalty’ is clearly just a contractual concept. And when that man says ‘Music has value’, he means its value is beholden to men who had no part in creating it. 

    When I left my masters in Scott’s hands, I made peace with the fact that eventually he would sell them. Never in my worst nightmares did I imagine the buyer would be Scooter. Any time Scott Borchetta has heard the words ‘Scooter Braun’ escape my lips, it was when I was either crying or trying not to. He knew what he was doing; they both did. Controlling a woman who didn’t want to be associated with them. In perpetuity. That means forever.”

    The updated album features six previously unreleased songs including  ‘Electric Touch’ featuring Fall Out Boy and ‘Castles Crumbling’ with Paramore’s Hayley Williams. The others ‘From the Vault’ tracks are titled ‘When Emma Falls in Love,’ ‘I Can See You’, ‘Foolish One’, and ‘Timeless’.

    Listen to the album here:

  • Justice Musarrat Hilali becomes second woman to take oath as Supreme Court Judge

    Justice Musarrat Hilali becomes second woman to take oath as Supreme Court Judge


    Justice Musarrat Hilali on Friday took oath as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, with Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial administering the oath to the former Peshawar High Court head.

    She has become the second female judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court. After Hilali’s appointment the SC now has 16 judges in total.

    Earlier, a parliamentary committee had approved Justice Musarrat Hilali’s appointment as a justice of the apex court.

    Justice Ayesha Malik, appointed in January 2022 to the apex court, was the first female to become a judge of the Supreme Court. Mussarat Hilali was also the first female Chief Justice of PHC. She is the only woman on the bench since 2013.

    Justice Hilali also holds the honour of getting elected as the first woman executive member of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) from 2007-2009.

  • Gold market bounces back with second consecutive price increase of Rs1,800 to Rs207,800 per tola

    Gold market bounces back with second consecutive price increase of Rs1,800 to Rs207,800 per tola

    The price of gold in Pakistan has experienced a notable increase for the second consecutive session, following a prolonged period of decline subsequent to the $3 billion deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    Data provided by the All-Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association (APSGJA) reveals that the price of 24-carat gold rose by Rs1,800 per tola and Rs1,543 per 10 grammes, reaching Rs207,800 and Rs178,155 respectively.

    Simultaneously, the international market witnessed a decrease in the price of gold by $23, resulting in a settlement at $1,905 per ounce.

    The gold market in Pakistan has exhibited volatility recently due to persistent political and economic uncertainty, along with high inflation. Consequently, individuals seek to invest in this valuable commodity as a means of safeguarding their assets and hedging against market fluctuations.

    The APSGJA’s data also indicates that the price of silver has remained unchanged at Rs2,380 per tola and Rs2,126.20 per 10 grammes. Notably, the previous day witnessed a Rs1,000 increase in the price of gold.

    Furthermore, the Pakistani rupee displayed a marginal recovery of 0.13 per cent against the US dollar on Thursday. The interbank market, as reported by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), recorded the local currency closing at Rs277.04 in relation to the greenback.