Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • Gucci, Adidas’s three lakh rupee umbrella doesn’t stop rain

    Gucci, Adidas’s three lakh rupee umbrella doesn’t stop rain

    Luxury label Gucci and sportswear firm Adidas AG are receiving a barrage of criticism in China for selling an umbrella which roughly costs Rs 3 lakh ($1,644) and it isn’t even waterproof.

    On the Chinese social media network, Weibo, criticism of the item dubbed a “sun umbrella” has gone viral.

    The umbrella is not made for water, according to Gucci’s website. It is “not waterproof and is suitable for sun protection or decorative use,” according to Gucci’s website.

    On Weibo, a hashtag stating that “the collaborative umbrella being sold for 11,100 yuan is not waterproof” received over 140 million views.

    A Gucci spokesperson told Beijing-based magazine Caijing that the product was “not recommended for use as an everyday umbrella”.

    They added that it had “good collector’s value and is suitable for use as a daily accessory”.

  • Supreme Court bars transfers, appointments in high-profile cases

    Supreme Court bars transfers, appointments in high-profile cases

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) is barring authorities from making new appointments and transferring officials involved in “high-profile” and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cases as well as those cases which are being heard by special courts, reports Dawn.

    The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) observed that special courts in Karachi and Lahore lack judges while three accountability courts in Islamabad are also empty.

    The court issued notices to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman and the interior secretary. The court asked the parties concerned to give an explanation as to why there was “interference” in criminal cases, and stopped the NAB and FIA from withdrawing cases till further orders.

    The court also asked to be informed about the steps being taken to protect the record of criminal cases and directed for the record of high-profile cases to be checked and sealed. When Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Ashtar Ausaf protested against this, the CJP said that the record of ongoing cases would not be sealed, only that of the prosecution.

    During the hearing, the CJP also observed that there should be “no interference in the prosecution process or the prosecution wing”.

    The CJP also noticed that FIA’s former director Mohammad Rizwan, who was probing money laundering charges against Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and his son Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Hamza Shahbaz, was also transferred and later died of a heart attack.

    “We are concerned over these developments,” the CJP said. Justice Bandial, indirectly pointing out at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) also stated that according to news reports, “thousands” of people had benefitted after their names were removed from the no-fly list.

    At one point, CJP Bandial remarked that the court was only concerned with ensuring justice and adjourned the hearing till May 27.

  • Bush mistakenly described the invasion of Iraq by ‘one man’ as ‘brutal and unjustified’

    Bush mistakenly described the invasion of Iraq by ‘one man’ as ‘brutal and unjustified’

    Former United States (US) President George W. Bush mistakenly described the invasion of Iraq by “one man” as “brutal” and “unjustified” before correcting himself to say he meant to refer to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    “The result is an absence of checks and balances in Russia, and the decision of one man to launch a wholly unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq,” Bush said, before correcting himself and shaking his head. “I mean, of Ukraine.”

    He jokingly blamed the mistake on his age as the audience burst into laughter.

    In 2003, when Bush was president, the United States led an invasion of Iraq over weapons of mass destruction that were never found. The prolonged conflict killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced many more.

    Bush’s remarks quickly went viral on social media, gathering over three million views on Twitter alone after the clip was tweeted by a Dallas News reporter.

  • Most common women harassment platforms are WhatsApp, Facebook: Research

    Most common women harassment platforms are WhatsApp, Facebook: Research

    A Pakistani research-focused NGO, Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) revealed its annual report on the five-year cyber harassment helpline.

    According to the DRF, WhatsApp and Facebook were the most commonly utilised apps in Pakistan to harass women. Its helpline for combating online abuse and harassment will reach a five-year milestone this year.

    In the last five years, the online harassment helpline has received over 11,681 cases. In 2021, there were 4,441 cases received, with an average of 370 instances each month. The months of March and September saw a spike in reports, while the remainder of the year was quite constant.

    About 68 per cent of the calls were from women, 30 per cent were from males, and the remaining 2 per cent were from gender minorities. WhatsApp was the most widely mentioned platform for harassment, followed by Facebook.

    In 2021, 893 complaints were related to blackmail, and 727 incidents on the helpline involved the use of non-consensual photos, according to the research.

    Executive Director of DRF Nighat Dad stated that “the pace at which the cases of cyber harassment are increasing is alarming and must serve as a wake-up call for us to take appropriate action to make the internet a safe and equal space for everyone”.

    Pakistan’s first specialised helpline against cyber violence and harassment, the cyber-harassment helpline, was opened in December 2016. The toll-free number (0800-39393) is available Monday through Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM, and includes email and social media help.

    Via: Geo

  • Shoaib Akhtar reveals he used to pull a truck to train as a fast bowler

    Shoaib Akhtar reveals he used to pull a truck to train as a fast bowler

    Pakistan’s former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has disclosed the training methods that helped him improve his bowling speed and eventually break the 160kmph barrier in the ICC World Cup 2003.

    In an chat with Sportskeeda, Rawalpindi Express said he started pulling light vehicles on the roads of Islamabad before moving on to pulling a truck for at least 4-5 miles.

    “I use to bowl 157 and 158kmph consistently but somehow I was unable to click 160kph. I started planning to train in order to cross the 160kmph barrier,” said Akhtar.

    “Initially, I tied up myself to a tyre and pulled it but the tyre was too light to build my muscles. Later, during nighttime in Islamabad, I tied myself to a small car and pulled it but this also turned out to be light training for my body.”

    Shoaib Akhtar said he intended to tie himself to a truck and pull it afterwards. This worked out since he began training and was able to pull a truck for nearly 5 kilometres.

    “I doubled my weight training for the sake of building muscles in the gym. This started changing my biomechanics,” he added.

    Shoaib Akhtar made the ICC World Cup bowling record with 161.3 kmph against England in 2003.

  • ‘Khan wants to destroy Pakistan for his ego’: CM Hamza Shehbaz

    ‘Khan wants to destroy Pakistan for his ego’: CM Hamza Shehbaz

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Hamza Shehbaz on Thursday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was “trying to divide the army”.

    “I want to tell you today that what Imran Khan Niazi is doing is not politics. He is spreading hatred in the name of politics,” said Hamza, addressing a press conference in Lahore. “What does he want to do with this country? I, as a Pakistani, want to warn the nation: don’t be misled with his fake demeanour.”

    He urged people and the institutions to “keep an eye” on Imran and his tactics.

    “He is trying to destroy Pakistan for his ego, just like he trampled upon the Constitution and the law for his ego. Keep politics aside. First decide what this man is trying to do with the nation. The people and institutions will have to take notice.”

    Hamza said he would stay on the post of CM “as long as God wills it” and vowed to continue working for the welfare and well-being of the people of the province “without wasting any moment”.

    “The way these people are creating problems in Punjab, whether it is the former governor [Omar Sarfraz Cheema] or the president [Arif Alvi] … The way they are spreading propaganda among the public … I have decided not to waste a second in making things easier for the people.”

    “I won’t let anything hinder my resolve in working for the people of Punjab.”

    “But I want to tell you today that the government of Punjab is standing with its people,” he pledged, announcing a relief package for the province in which the price of a 10kg bag of wheat flour, which earlier cost Rs650, has been reduced to Rs490. “In 36 districts of Punjab, people will be able to buy flour at this price,” the CM said. “We are giving a relief of Rs160 under the Rs200 billion subsidy for the province.”

    Hamza also said that he will ensure that everyday medicines and especially the ones used for cancer will be given free to people.

  • Pakistan wants to ensure rights to the women of Afghanistan: Bilawal Bhutto

    Pakistan wants to ensure rights to the women of Afghanistan: Bilawal Bhutto

     Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that Pakistan wants to ensure rights to the women of Afghanistan.

     The foreign minister in an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour said, “I see women’s rights or women’s rights to education as rights granted to us in Islam. We’ll be emphasising that the Taliban keep their international commitments and ensure rights to the women of Afghanistan because these are rights guaranteed to women in Islam,” Bilawal said when he was asked if Islamabad had engaged with the Afghan Taliban on how Muslim countries can give rights to women.

    The minister said it wasn’t an issue of the West. He also said that the first word in Quran is ‘Iqra’, which means to read. “Nowhere is it written that only men should read. We are all meant to pursue our path to education.”

    FM Bilawal said that Islamabad is looking to the Taliban regime in Afghanistan to play its role in discouraging the increase in terrorist activity on Pakistan’s side of the border.

    “We continue to not only monitor this situation but work on our side to ensure that we can try to tackle the threat of terrorism and hope that the regime in Afghanistan lives up to their international commitment to not allow their soil to be used for terrorism.”

    “We must prioritise, alleviate the humanitarian crisis, ensure there’s no economic collapse and hold the Taliban regime to the international commitments. It was not Pakistan, but the United States who had direct communication with the Taliban regime before their takeover of Kabul. Pakistan and the international community believe it will not serve any of our interests if we abandon the people of Afghanistan once again,” said Bilawal.

    “We all believe, Pakistan believes and the international community believes, they will not serve any of our interests if we abandon the people of Afghanistan, once again,” said Bilawal.

  • Pakistani rupee tumbles to Rs200 versus US dollar in the interbank

    Pakistani rupee tumbles to Rs200 versus US dollar in the interbank

    The lack of clarity on both economic and political fronts worsened the Pakistani rupee’s (PKR) difficulties, as the local currency sank to Rs200 against the US dollar during intraday trading in the interbank market on Thursday, May 19.

    Pakistani currency officially breached the 200-barrier in the open market on May 18, closing at Rs198.39 after a day-on-day devaluation of Rs2.65 or 1.3 per cent.

    Investors, on the other hand, are concerned about the reactivation of the stalled $6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme due to the government’s inability to implement IMF conditions. Meanwhile, market sentiment was severely harmed by continued domestic political uncertainties.

    Pakistan and the IMF are holding talks in Doha as the South Asian country wants to revive the IMF programme. On Wednesday, Federal Minister of Finance and Revenue Miftah Ismail met virtually with IMF Mission Chief Nathan Porter.

    During the meeting, Ismail underlined the government’s resolve to implement the IMF’s reforms and meet the program’s structural goals.

    He stated that the administration recognises the need to make difficult decisions while minimising the impact of inflation on the middle and lower income groups.

  • ‘Her choice’, Social media defends girl dancing on Islamabad street

    ‘Her choice’, Social media defends girl dancing on Islamabad street

    A video of a girl dancing on the streets of Islamabad went viral two days ago. In the video, the girl is fully clothed. can be seen dancing around a parking sign and people passing her are least bothered.

    However, someone made the video of her and uploaded it on social media, after which the girl started facing a lot of backlash.

    Islamabad Police has said the girl was not “sound-minded.”

    “Dear citizen, As per the initial enquiry, The above video is three days old and eyewitnesses said that she wasn’t of sound mind,” Islamabad police wrote in a tweet.

    While some people on social media are criticising the girl, many others are of the view that there is nothing wrong with it. Social media users are asking Islamabad police to take action against those who made video with out the consent of the girl.

    https://twitter.com/7kayhan/status/1526854676787908608

    https://twitter.com/urswagymf/status/1526948391095259136?s=20&t=wX5HbJi5V-i9khrJ4Q3T7w
    https://twitter.com/mfusmani1/status/1526780442141069312
  • Pakistan faces Rs615 billion annual deficit due to tobacco consumption

    Pakistan faces Rs615 billion annual deficit due to tobacco consumption

    Pakistan has a substantial Rs615 billion annual deficit owing to diseases caused by smoking and overall tobacco usage, with only Rs120 billion earning in tax revenue from the product.

    The government is expected to improve revenue by raising the tax on cigarettes by 30 per cent according to The Nation.

    This was voiced by speakers at a major symposium held in Islamabad on May 18. The Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) held a seminar on the theme ‘Harms of Tobacco Products and the Importance of Tax Policy,’ which was presided over by Patron General (R) Ashraf Khan and hosted by General Secretary Sana Ullah Ghumman.

    As per the speakers at the event, tobacco usage is a major cause of serious heart, lung, and cancer diseases in the country. A fact sheet on the health and economic costs of cigarette usage was released by the Social Policy and Development Centre (SPDC).

    According to the survey, tobacco is used by 31 million persons over the age of 15. More than 260,000 people are predicted to start smoking in the country if tobacco taxes are not raised in the budget for 2022-23.

    Engineer Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, the former governor of KP and a senior PML-N leader, was the special guest at the event. Nisar Cheema, a member of the National Assembly, was also present.

    Read more: Tobacco companies in Pakistan may bump cigarette prices

    PANAH Patron General (R) Ashraf Khan congratulated the attendees and informed them of the organization’s goals and objectives.

    Smoking was declared the primary cause of deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart, cancer, respiratory, and chronic diseases, according to participants, with an estimated 163,360 persons dying in 2017.