Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • Political use of ‘diplomatic cable’ to haunt Pakistan’s Foreign Office for many years: report

    Political use of ‘diplomatic cable’ to haunt Pakistan’s Foreign Office for many years: report

    The ‘diplomatic cable’ which has plunged Pakistan into a constitutional crisis, also attracted fair resentment from the Foreign Office (FO) against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for using the communique for gaining ‘political mileage’.

    Kamran Yousaf in his report for The Express Tribune writes, “Two Foreign Office officials, spoke to The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity due to sensitivity of the issue, revealed that the diplomats were not happy with the controversy.”

    One diplomatic on condition of anonymity told Yousaf that the repercussions of the way the government used “secret and classified communication” to achieve its “political objectives and its negative impact” would be felt in the FO for “many years” to come.

    “Diplomats are eyes and ears of Pakistan who give frank and honest feedback from the countries where they serve,” the official added.

    “Such honest and candid assessments are meant for policymakers to devise a strategy accordingly,” the official explained.

    “But if governments start using such secret communications for their political gains, then the diplomats would be reluctant to write honest assessments,” the official cautioned.

    “If the Foreign Office start making public diplomatic cables, people would be blown away,” the official said, insisting such candid discussions between diplomats are common.

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on April 3, named Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu as the United States (US) representative who had a meeting with Pakistan’s Ambassador in the US, which led to the “threatening diplomatic cable”.

    PM Khan on March 27 claimed that the Opposition’s no-trust move is part of an alleged “foreign-funded conspiracy” hatched against his government. It is pertinent to mention here that the Opposition tabled the no-confidence motion against PM Khan on March 8. The government claims to have received the threatening communique on March 7.

  • Rapid melting in West Antarctica to push sea levels 10ft high

    Rapid melting in West Antarctica to push sea levels 10ft high

    Scientists have warned that the melting of ice in the West Antarctica Ice sheet can cause global sea levels to rise up to 10 feet as the Antarctic ice reaches a second-lowest level in 44 years, Daily Mail reported. 

    New satellite data has revealed that the Antarctic sea has reached its second-lowest ice level in the last 44 years. Scientists have warned that the melting of ice in West Antarctica could cause global sea levels to rise by up to 10 feet.

    The data analysis, done in March, revealed that the amount of sea ice in the Antarctic region was 26 % less than the 1991-2020 average.

    The data collected by the Copernicus Climate Change Service(C3S) also revealed that, with a global average temperature rise of 0.4C, March 2022 was the fifth warmest March ever recorded.

    Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have warned that the melting of ice in the West Antarctic Sheet could cause global sea levels to rise by up to 10 feet (3 metres).

    Ice melt in the West Antarctic region in the Amundsen Sea Antarctica is one the most rapidly growing and concerning contributions to global sea levels rise.

    The ice loss patterns hint that the ocean may have been warming in the Amundsen Sea over the past century but observations in the region only began in 1994.

    The lead author of the study and ocean-ice modeller at BAS Dr Kaitlin Naughten said that their simulations show how the Amundsen Sea responds to long-term trends in the atmosphere, specifically the Southern Hemisphere westerly winds.

  • Toyota Pakistan records highest monthly sales, selling 7,132 vehicles in March 2022

    Toyota Pakistan records highest monthly sales, selling 7,132 vehicles in March 2022

    Toyota Indus Motor Company (IMC) achieved a new monthly milestone in March 2022, selling 7,132 vehicles, exceeding the prior record of 7,001 vehicles sold last year in October.

    It is pertinent to mention that the manufacturer has established a monthly sales record for the third time in the last eight months, which is a remarkable achievement.

    IMC has experienced tremendous growth over almost three decades of competence in producing and marketing Toyota cars in Pakistan. It was also revealed that the recent sales are the biggest since the company’s inception in 1993, for which the business has extended gratitude to its devoted customers.

    As consumer demand has grown over time, the corporation has made significant efforts to expand its capacity in order to satisfy the demands for innovative products.

    One of the most popular models from Toyota Pakistan is the iconic Toyota Corolla, which is also one of Asia’s most popular automobiles. The latter has been quite successful for decades now, accounting for the best sales.

    Due to its relatively faster delivery period than other car brands in Pakistan, the automaker has a broad demand in the nation and appeals to a wider clientele for its durable and trusted offerings.

    Reportedly, the Toyota Yaris has a two-month delivery wait as opposed to the Honda City’s four-month delivery period.

    In order to maintain quality standards, the firm invests heavily in coaching and motivating its qualified personnel. The corporation places a strong emphasis on corporate ethics along with employee and customer safety.

    On the flip side, the corporation may have to raise prices once again due to worldwide logistical issues, rising freight costs, and the depreciation of the Pakistani rupee.

    Imported raw materials have become pricier for automakers as the rupee continues to depreciate against the US dollar. As a consequence, IMC said that overall sales may drop by nearly 15 per cent over the coming years.

  • Largest virus outbreak: China relies on TCM to fight Covid-19

    Largest virus outbreak: China relies on TCM to fight Covid-19

    Shanghai is distributing to residents millions of boxes of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), such as herbal products and flu capsules, which it says can treat Covid-19 in the battle to control its largest virus outbreak.

    China’s commercial capital, now under an extended lockdown, reported more than 17,000 new Covid-19 infections on April 5, including 311 symptomatic cases, among a population of more than 26 million.

    “Facing the extremely transmissible Omicron variant, we should use TCM treatment as soon as possible,” said Fang Min, president of the city’s Shuguang Hospital.

    “For general public, including high-risk groups, taking TCM treatment when the epidemic is severe has good preventive effect,” he told a news briefing on Tuesday, adding that such treatments for more than 21 million people had been handed out.

    Several residents told Reuters they had received free boxes of over-the-counter flu medicine Lianhua Qingwen from neighbourhood committees in recent weeks. Others who caught Covid said they got TCM medication to be dissolved in hot water.

    About 98% of Shanghai’s Covid-19 patients are taking TCM treatment, and teams of TCM workers have fanned out to designated hospitals and quarantine sites since the latest outbreak began in March, Fang said.

    China’s health authority has recommended several TCM drugs and ingredients, such as Lianhua Qingwen, for use by Covid-19 patients, although a lack of reliable clinical data limits their use outside the country.

    China approved several treatments including Pfizer’s Paxlovid and Brii Biosciences Ltd’s antibody-based medicine to treat Covid patients, but it is not clear how widely they are used.

    Reuters

  • India detects first case of Covid Variant XE

    India detects first case of Covid Variant XE

    India’s first case of coronavirus variant XE was detected in Mumbai on Wednesday, Indian media reported.

    The patient is a 50-year-old costume designer who returned from South Africa in February. She tested positive for Covid on March 2, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said in its release.

    This strain was detected in the UK at the start of the New Year. Britain’s health agency had on April 3 said that XE was first detected on January 19 and 637 cases of the new variant have been reported in the country so far.

    The new mutation XE appears to be 10 per cent more transmissible than the BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.

    A case of the Kappa variant has also been detected in India.

  • Sarfaraz says doesn’t want son to be a cricketer

    Sarfaraz says doesn’t want son to be a cricketer

    Former Pakistan Skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed has said that he does not want his son to opt for cricket as a career for sake of his mental well-being. 

    The wicket-keeper batsman, an interview to ARY Digital, said that although his son Abdullah is interested in cricket, he does not want him to be a professional cricketer. “I only care for my son’s mental well-being and will never want Abdullah go through the stress professional cricketers’ experience.”

    Sarfaraz said he does not want little Abdullah to experience what he has had to bear in the ups and downs of his 15 year-long cricketing career.

    Sarfaraz Ahmed made his international debut against archrival India in Jaipur in 2007 but could not find a permanent spot in the team until 2014.

    He led the Pakistani team to the historic win of ICC Champions Trophy of 2017, beating archrivals India in the final.

    The wicket-keeper batsman was removed from T20I and ODI captaincy and recently was dropped from the T20I and ODI squads against Australia.

  • Rangers called in Lahore amid simmering political crisis

    Rangers called in Lahore amid simmering political crisis

    The Rangers have been called in Lahore for 15 days to deter any eventuality in the midst of brewing political crisis ahead of the Punjab Assembly session to be convened on April 16 to elect the new chief minister of the province.

    According to a notification issued by the Punjab government, the Rangers personnel will be deployed for security in the provincial capital for 15 days. The notification warned that anyone found taking the law into one hand or creating any trouble in the capital city would be taken into custody.

    Those creating law and order situation could be detained under 16 Section of Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).

    A tough contest is expected between Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz and ruling PTI’s nominee for the top slot of the province Parvez Elahi.

  • PCB withdraws COVID-19 rules for upcoming West Indies series

    PCB withdraws COVID-19 rules for upcoming West Indies series

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided not to implement COVID-19 restrictions for future matches, which include having a bio-secure bubble, after a successful Covid-19-regulation-free experiment at a domestic competition.

    According to a PCB official, the board will follow this policy during the series against the West Indies. According to the PCB, the Cricket West Indies (CWI) will be handed a proposal to play the series without taking COVID-19 precautions.

    Cricket will be played in a regular environment with players and coaching staff able to engage with one another. COVID-19 testing, on the other hand, will only be performed if a player or staff member show symptoms of Covid-19.

    If someone tests positive for Covid-19, that person will be quarantined for five days. All international series and domestic events in Pakistan will follow the same policy.

    The West Indies series schedule is as follows.

    Series schedule:

    • 8 June – 1st ODI, Rawalpindi
    • 10 June – 2nd ODI, Rawalpindi
    • 12 June – 3rd ODI, Rawalpindi

  • Farah Khan: the new ‘Richie Rich’, report

    Farah Khan: the new ‘Richie Rich’, report

    The wealth of Farah Khan has grown exponentially during the three and a half years of rule of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at the Centre and in Punjab.

    Farah Khan is a close friend of the first lady of Pakistan, Bushra Bibi. Her wealth grew four times from Rs231 million in 2017 to Rs971 million in 2021. Her filing for the tax year 2018 was nil, reports Fakhar Durrani for The News.

    The News investigations reveal that Farah Khan’s fortune increased ever since the premier appointed Usman Buzdar as Chief Minister Punjab. 

    “Farah, as per the documents, also availed the whitening of black money scheme (Tax Amnesty Scheme) in 2019 during Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s government and declared assets worth Rs328 million under the Tax Amnesty Scheme 2019.”

    “The total assets of Farah Khan reached Rs699,137,839 inside Pakistan, Rs15,749, 479 outside Pakistan in the form of a flat in the UAE. Hence the total assets inside and outside Pakistan were recorded at Rs714,887,318. The net assets were reported as Rs697,502,318.”

    Umar Cheema in his special report for The News writes, “Farah’s penchant for luxury items is also evident from her bid to buy a luxury car, Porsche, which she got booked through Porsche’s Pakistani dealer and paid a part amount of it (Rs33 million) as advance. This she declared in the nomination papers she submitted for the Senate election in March 2021. Later, Farah pulled out from the Senate race.”

    “Her Birkin bag whose price is stated to be around $90,000 has been in the news. Her picture of holding the bag while sitting in a chartered plane is in circulation. The purse made by the French luxury brand Hermès is prepared on order. One can’t just get it by visiting a store. The order has to be placed months in advance,” writes Cheema.

  • Arooj Aftab opens up on her chat with BTS about their Pakistani fans

    Brooklyn-based Pakistani singer, Arooj Aftab who recently won a Grammy Award for her song, Mohabbat has shared her conversation with the Korean pop group, BTS during the main event.

    At the request of the Pakistani ARMY, Arooj made a special video to share the experience of her interaction with BTS.

    Aftab said that she went up to them and asked to take a photo. BTS members congratulated the singer while taking a photo. When she told “the Pakistani BTS ARMY loves you”, BTS said, “Thanks”.

    Arooj also mentioned the man, Hafeez Hoshiarpuri, behind the beautiful song, Mohabbat who wrote the poetry of it. She gave huge respect to him and all those who contributed to her success.

    On the question about the Grammy award, it would mail with her printed name. There is a rule in Grammy Awards that management takes back the award and then delivers it with your winner’s name on it via mail.

    On April 3rd, Arooj Aftab became the first-ever Pakistani singer who won the Grammy award for Best Global Performance. The song is a fusion of Sufi traditions with modern music.