Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • US to give $10m to Pakistan for food security

    US to give $10m to Pakistan for food security

    United States (US) Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has said that the US government is pleased to announce another $10 million for Pakistan’s food security programme.

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari met Blinken at the State Department in Washington DC on Monday.

    Holding a joint press conference following the meeting, Bilawal said that diplomacy between the State Department and the foreign ministry of Pakistan is back once again.

    “It is indeed true that diplomacy is back between the US State Department and the foreign ministry of Pakistan,” he stressed.

    Blinken said this is a very difficult time for Pakistan after floods wreacked havoc in the country. Floods will have long-term repercussions if the situation is not handled immediately, he warned.

    The US top official said, “We are meeting when Pakistan’s one-third [area] is under water. We have a sense of urgency and sense of determination. We’re looking ahead to rebuild.”

    He stated that the US stands with the people of Pakistan at this crucial time and added that 17 planes carrying aid for flood victims had already left the country. Pakistan will also receive an additional $10 million for its food security programme, he noted.

    “That has an immediate impact. But unless we’re able together to deal with the challenge, it will have a long-term impact as well,” said Blinken.

    “I also urged our colleagues to engage China on some of the important issues of debt relief and restructuring so that Pakistan can more quickly recover from the floods,” Blinken said.

    China is a key economic and political partner of Pakistan, pushing ahead with a $54 billion “economic corridor” that will build infrastructure and give Beijing an outlet to the Indian Ocean, although Chinese interests have also faced attacks from separatists.

    During the press conference, Bilawal also invited Blinken to visit Pakistan.

  • Court discharge Ayaz Amir’s name in daughter-in law murder case

    Court discharge Ayaz Amir’s name in daughter-in law murder case

    On Tuesday, a local court discharged senior analyst Ayaz Amir’s name from the investigation case of his daughter-in-law Sarah Inam’s murder.


    A trial judge court issued arrest warrants for Ayaz Amir and his ex-wife Sameena Shah on Saturday since Sarah’s family had named the two as suspects. While his ex-wife later received pre-arrest bail, Amir was taken into custody.


    Ayaz Amir’s son Shahnawaz is accused of killing his wife Sarah at home on September 23 following an argument over a “family matter.” Her body was found bludgeoned with dumbbells to the head.


    Sarah’s murder rocked Islamabad on Friday morning, as news of the crime spread across social media and news networks.
    It has been reported that after murdering her, the accused dumped her body in a bathtub.

  • Petrol, diesel prices likely to go down as International oil prices fall

    Petrol, diesel prices likely to go down as International oil prices fall

    Due to a dramatic drop in oil rates on global markets, POL prices are expected to fall by Rs15 from October 1st.

    According to experts, the price of diesel could drop by Rs15 and the price of petrol could drop by Rs5 for the next two weeks, reports Geo.

    They stated that the new price would be determined based on the price of oil on the global markets through September 29.

    On Monday, oil prices fell for a second day due to concerns about weaker fuel consumption from an anticipated global recession brought on by rising global interest rates as well as the fact that non-dollar buyers of crude are less able to purchase it due to the strengthening US dollar.

    At 06:40 GMT, the price of Brent crude futures for November settlement fell $1.35, or 1.57 per cent, to $84.80 per barrel. The contract dropped to $84.51, its lowest price since January 14.

    The November delivery price of US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil futures fell $1.15, or 1.46 per cent, to $77.59 a barrel. WTI dropped to $77.21, its lowest level since January 6.

    The government is required to levy a fee on petroleum products as part of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund. The application of a petroleum levy on gasoline is currently set at Rs37.50 per litre and on diesel at Rs7.50 per litre, according to a notification released on September 1.

  • ‘I had a rift with her’: Atif Aslam opens up about fight with Asha Bhosle

    ‘I had a rift with her’: Atif Aslam opens up about fight with Asha Bhosle

    Superstar Atif Aslam has opened up about his experience in India and his tiff with legendary singer Asha Bhosle in the recent episode of Super Over with Ahmed Ali Butt.

    Butt questioned Woh Lamhe singer about his dispute with legendary singer Asha Bhosle, to which the artist replied: “I had a rift with her in the start because of the show which we were part of. It was not a very friendly relationship and it went on, for some time. However, her daughter was my fan which is why she called me and told me that my daughter asked me why I have issues with such a handsome man and that if she likes him can’t I like him as well? After that statement, I have forgotten everything and forgive you for everything you said, it was so big of her that it won my heart.”

    Replying to the question asked by the host if the rifts were scripted or real, Atif Aslam revealed that all of it was real and that the show had to stop recording in between for four to five hours due to these issues. However, they would continue recording after many requests of the producers and directors.

    On his experience in India: “To this day, there is some sort of acknowledgment about my work in India on Twitter or an artist from there puts up a status”, to which the host Ahmed Ali Butt added that Arijit Singh also appreciation Atif’s work in his concert. Atif agreed and said: “He really likes my music and I have heard that he also sings some of my songs on stage.”

    Atif also spoke up about Indian singer Palash Sen’s tweet in which he said: “According to me, the one singer-musician who has made the maximum impact on Bollywood’s music and most singers over the last 15 years, is this man. The awesome Atif Aslam. I say this with a lot of humility.”

    Atif Aslam reveals he isn't bothered, affected by Bollywood ban - Life & Style - Business Recorder

    The host further asked Atif how Bollywood has contributed to making him and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan megastars, to which the singer replied that he would first credit it to Pakistan since his album was first released in Pakistan and became a hit, after which Indian producer Mahesh Butt called him to work in India. He added: “Of course, they have a bigger reach. They marketed it really well. For instance, if someone’s hearing my music in Fiji, it’ll be because of Bollywood because they have a bigger reach.” 

  • ‘Tu jata hoga, Kaam se kaam rakh’: Yasir Hussain blasts troll for criticisim over Toronto trip, Sajal Aly reacts

    ‘Tu jata hoga, Kaam se kaam rakh’: Yasir Hussain blasts troll for criticisim over Toronto trip, Sajal Aly reacts

    Actor and director Yasir Hussain has hit out at a netizen for scrutinising him for attending Hum Awards in Toronto amidst flood crises in Pakistan.

    The social media user slammed Yasir for being in Canada while the country is battling the flood issue. The user also alleged Hussain of being a hypocrite.

    Yasir responded to the netizen by saying that, “I am here for work, like you must be going to your work place. Similarly how cricketers are playing cricket. Like cinema people are selling tickets.”

    Hussain concluded, “You also go, do your work.”

    A-list actress Sajal Aly was quick to react to Hussain’s post. The Alif star said, “Bilkul sahi (Totally right).”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIruIK3sERo&t=613s

    Last year Yasir slammed actress Nausheen Shah for her interview with Tabish Hashmi. The Jhooti actor took to social media and blasted the Dugdugi diva for bringing up the topic again in public domain.

    He has also warned her that next time he will upload the evidence on social media.

  • Maria B wants transgender’s rights act to be called ‘khwaja sira’ act, Twitter wants her to stop ‘commenting’

    Maria B wants transgender’s rights act to be called ‘khwaja sira’ act, Twitter wants her to stop ‘commenting’

    Designer Maria B has once again landed in controversy for her transphobic comments. The designer took to Instagram stories to share her two cents about the recent debate on Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of2018, along with her sisters Najia and Aafia.

    In the video, Maria B expresses her concern about how the said act will affect her children.

    “The first thing that one needs to do is to identify what transgender means. Who is the most famous transgender in the world? Everyone knows about Kim Kardashian and her father. He was her father first and then her mother. His name is Caitlyn Jenner” said Maria.

    Maria said the Act was “transgenders” not for ‘khwaja sira’

    “No absolutely not, this Act was designed for the khwaja sira community. They are intersex people and there’s a massive difference between them and transgenders. On the Act that represents the marginalised community, after 70 years when we’re doing something for them, and transgenders have usurped their rights,” she said.

    People are criticising the designer for sharing her opinion about a marginalized community of which she herself is not a part. Take a look at the tweets:

    The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of2018 has come under intense criticism from some sections of society during the past few weeks with two petitions also having been filed in the Federal Shariah Court against the Act.

    The Bill was enacted in the year 2018 to guarantee transgenders equal rights to education, basic health facilities , issuance of CNICs and passport and giving them a right to vote and contest elections.

    Earlier this year in August, Maria B complained about a trans activist being on the speaker’s panel at a talk in her son’s school.

  • Pakistani rupee gains Rs3 against dollar in early interbank trading

    Pakistani rupee gains Rs3 against dollar in early interbank trading

    The Pakistani rupee maintained its stability on Wednesday, the second working day of the week, after regaining ground versus the US dollar on Tuesday in the interbank market.

    Details indicate that the value of the local currency relative to the US dollar increased by Rs3.32 and that it was trading at about Rs234. Data from Pakistan’s central bank show that the rupee ended the day at Rs237.02 on Monday.

    The rupee has recovered a total of Rs5.65 over the last two working days thanks to the most recent intraday increase.

    Despite disastrous floods wrecking Pakistan’s economy, the rupee came close to hitting a record low of Rs240 versus the dollar but was unable to do so following many encouraging signs.

    According to Zafar Paracha, General Secretary of the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan (ECAP), the market appears to be reacting to the arrival of PML-N leader Ishaq Dar and the announcement that he will succeed Miftah Ismail as finance minister.

  • Putin grants Russian citizenship to Edward Snowden, who disclosed top secret US surveillance

    Putin grants Russian citizenship to Edward Snowden, who disclosed top secret US surveillance

    Edward Snowden, a former security expert who exposed top-secret American surveillance programmes and is still wanted by Washington on espionage charges, was granted citizenship by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.

    In order to avoid punishment, Snowden, who considers himself a whistleblower, left the United States and has been residing in Russia since that country gave him refuge in 2013.

    In a decree that Putin signed, Snowden, 39, was one of 72 foreigners who received citizenship.

    His attorneys stated at the time that he was filing for a Russian passport without renunciating his American citizenship when he was given permanent status in 2020.

    The state-run news agency RIA Novosti was informed on Monday by Snowden’s attorney, Anatoly Kucherena, that Snowden’s wife, Lindsay Mills, is also in the process of seeking for Russian citizenship. In 2014, Mills accompanied Snowden to Moscow. In 2017, they got married, and now they have a son together.

    Additionally, Kucherena stated that because of Snowden’s lack of combat experience, he would not be subject to the partial military mobilisation that Putin ordered last week to support Russia’s waning war in Ukraine. Putin claimed that only individuals with prior experience would be called up for partial mobilisation, but there have been several stories of other people receiving summonses, including those detained during anti-mobilization protests.

    According to CNN, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to comment on Snowden’s new passport, and instead referred questions to the prosecutors seeking his extradition. “Soc, since I believe there have been criminal charges brought against him, we would point you to the Department of Justice for any specifics on this,” Jean-Pierre said.

    Snowden’s revelations were the largest security breach in American history as it exposed the top-secret NSA programme PRISM’s use of surveillance and the collection of a wide spectrum of digital data.

    Putin stated in a documentary directed by American Oliver Stone in 2017 that he did not view Snowden as a “traitor” for disclosing official information.

    “As an ex-KGB agent, you must have hated what Snowden did with every fiber of your being,” Stone says in the clip.

    “Snowden is not a traitor,” Putin said. “He did not betray the interests of his country. Nor did he transfer any information to any other country which would have been pernicious to his own country or to his own people. The only thing Snowden does, he does publicly.”

    Snowden justified his decision to submit a dual citizenship application in 2020.

    “After years of separation from our parents, my wife and I have no desire to be separated from our son. That’s why, in this era of pandemics and closed borders, we’re applying for dual US-Russian citizenship,” Snowden wrote on Twitter at the time.

    “Lindsay and I will remain Americans, raising our son with all the values of America we love — including the freedom to speak his mind. And I look forward to the day I can return to the States, so the whole family can be reunited,” Snowden added.

  • Miftah Ismail responds to a follower, reveals which restaurant he will visit when back in Karachi

    Miftah Ismail responds to a follower, reveals which restaurant he will visit when back in Karachi

    After resigning from the post of Finance Minister, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader, Miftah Ismail, can’t wait to get back to dine at his favourite restaurants in Karachi.

    Miftah took to Twitter on Sunday and announced his resignation.

    Where many commended and congratulated Miftah for his dedicated work as finance minister, a follower questioned him about which restaurant he would like to visit once back in Karachi.

    Miftah replied, “I am going to visit Zahid, Idris & Javed Nihari houses, Al-Kebab, Ghaffar and Meerut Kebab, & Gola at Dhoraji. Many choices fortunately.”

    Karachi is Miftah Ismail’s hometown.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the PML-N leader and Senator, Ishaq Dar, is coming back home to Pakistan after almost five years. It is being reported that Dar will take over the finance ministry from Tuesday (September 27).

  • ‘Donald Lu kisko paigham de raha tha?’ Khan asks crowd as they answer ‘neutrals, neutrals’

    ‘Donald Lu kisko paigham de raha tha?’ Khan asks crowd as they answer ‘neutrals, neutrals’

    The crowd attending a speech by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan at Government College (GC) burst out into chants of “neutrals” when the former Prime Minister talked about how he was removed from power. Neutrals is an euphemism for the military establishment.

    Khan questioned the crowd, “Who did the United States (US) diplomat Donald Lu ask to remove me from power?”

    The crowd in response started chanting, “neutrals, neutrals”.

    Khan once again asked them to repeat what they were chanting.

    The response was still the same and the PTI chairman appreciated them by saying “You have passed the first test.”

    After Khan’s address, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz took to Twitter and condemned the Vice-Chancellor of GC University for desecrating an educational institution by organising a jalsa on the premises.

    “Using a seat of learning for political hate-mongering is a crime that should not go unpunished,” tweeted Maryam, adding, “Strict action must be taken against Vice Chancellor Government College Uni for desecrating an educational institution by lending it to a Fitna & organising his jalsa on the premises.”