The price of gold in Pakistan saw a significant rise on Friday, with 24-karat gold now selling at Rs241,500 per tola, marking an increase of Rs800 per tola.
This adjustment is notable as the price has been maintained Rs1,500 below its actual cost due to a reduction in purchasing power.
The Karachi Sarafa Association reported that the price of 24-karat gold per 10 grammes has increased by Rs686, bringing it to Rs207,047. Similarly, 22-karat gold saw a price hike, reaching Rs189,793 per 10 grammes.
In contrast, silver prices remained steady in the domestic market. The price of 24-karat silver continued to be Rs2,750 per tola and Rs2,358 per 10 grammes.
On the international stage, spot gold was trading near $2,331 an ounce, reflecting a rise of $28.7 or 1.25 per cent from the previous session. This upward trend in the global market has influenced the local pricing dynamics in Pakistan.
The ongoing fluctuation in gold prices is closely monitored by investors and market participants, as it reflects broader economic conditions and purchasing power within the country.
A letter circulating all over social media claiming that the United Kingdom will no longer accept financial documents from major Pakistani banks for visa or immigration applications and that English language tests, including IELTS, will be considered unacceptable for Pakistani students has turned out to be fake.
In the letter allegedly issued by UK Visas and Immigration, it was stated that certain Pakistani banks’ statements would no longer be acceptable for UK visa applications.
The letter then goes on to name nine major banks in the country.
It also listed English language tests allegedly rejected by the UK, including Oxford ELLT Digital, IELTS Life Skills, and Pearson Test of English.
The British High Commission in Islamabad debunked the letter as false, clarifying that no such restrictions have been imposed.
The official statement by the Commission was posted on X (Twitter) account and confirmed by the Geo Fact Check team via mail. It stated that the Commission is aware of a “fake document being shared pretending to be from UK Visa and Immigration.”
We are aware of a fake document being shared, pretending to be from UK Visas and Immigration, claiming certain banks and English Language Tests are banned from UK student visa applications. If you receive it, please delete it, don’t share it, and let the person know it is a fake. pic.twitter.com/kWMOboxLxa
After Pakistan’s defeat against the USA during the T20 World Cup, speculation arose that the Asian country will not qualify for the next World Cup if it did not reach the Super-8 stage.
After these unsubstantiated reports came out, there was more criticism of the national team on social media, but these rumours were based on falsehoods. Even if Pakistan does not reach the Super-8 stage of this World Cup, the Pakistan team will still directly qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
According to Geo, the next World Cup will be played in India and Sri Lanka in 2026, in which 12 teams, including the host countries, will qualify directly.
For the next World Cup, eight teams from the Super-8 stage, two from the host country and two more teams based on better ranking will be eligible to play the event directly.
The ranking points of these two teams will be analysed on June 30, 2024.
India has qualified for the next World Cup after reaching the Super-8 stage and Sri Lanka, despite not yet reached the crucial, has directly qualified for the next World Cup due to hosting priorities in 2026. After which the situation is now that two to three teams will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup on the basis of ranking points.
Pakistan and England have not qualified for the Super-8 stage so far, while New Zealand has been pushed out of the event, but based on current ranking points, all three teams are likely to qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup.
Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Malik Shehzad Ahmed Khan said confidently on Friday that the security establishment’s involvement in the judiciary will be over soon.
While addressing an event in Rawalpindi, he stated, “Interference in judiciary will have to be fought with faith that it will come to an end.”
Justice Khan stressed that the establishment’s interference in the judiciary is a genuine issue, adding that he received letters as proof claiming the Army establishment’s involvement in judicial matters.
“The establishment’s interference in judicial matters will end, and my experience [tells me] that it will come to an end,” said the chief justice.
Justice Malik Shehzad Ahmed mentioned that he is happy that judicial authorities is “fulfilling their responsibilities without any fear or greed”. Earlier, on March 25, six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges wrote a letter to Supreme Court (SC) blaming intelligence agencies for interfering in judicial matters.
Pakistani journalist Mansoor Ali Khan has landed in controversy along with former bowler Muhammad Asif as the two trade verbal blows.
In a recent YouTube video, the journalist slammed former cricketer Ijaz Ahmed’s remarks about Pashtoon cricketers. Ijaz Ahmed had said on ARY, “Almost 80 percent of Pakistan’s cricket team comprises players from remote areas or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Even if the team is made from Sindh, seven to eight players are Pathan. They have neither the education nor the exposure, which is why these players cannot handle the pressure.”
Many former and current cricketers slammed his racist remarks and urged him to apologize.
Mansoor also criticised his words saying, “In the past three cricketers were detained in match-fixing, not one of them was Pashtoon, they all belonged to Punjab.”
Those three cricketers were Muhammad Asif, Salman Butt and Muhammad Amir but Mansoor was careful not to name anyone in the video.
After Mansoor’s video came out, he allegedly received a call from Muhammad Asif.
He said in another video, “A fixer calls me and asks why you are bringing me into this controversy? What was the need for you to talk about this?”
https://youtu.be/wsf2aUCDFHE
Mansoor said that he replied, “What do you mean, are you not a match-fixer? You did match-fixing, and this will remain with you your whole life. Also, I didn’t mention you anywhere in the video, I said this in another context.”
Mansoor also mentions that the ‘fixer’ has threatened him too.
Now, Muhammad Asif has also released a video, saying, “I just heard about Ijaz Ahmed remarks, and I also condemn them. He was wrong. But who are you to assassinate anyone’s character? Do you have the license to do so?”
Talking about match-fixing, Asif said, “Yes, I did match-fixing in the past and got punished for it. I called you just because you made a whole video about me. It has been 14 years. My children are growing, and so are yours. What do they think about me? This is not good.”
In 2010, national cricketers Muhammad Asif, Muhammad Amir and Salman Butt were suspended in a match fixing scandal by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
A Qatar Airways flight endured three hours without air conditioning while the plane waited in the heat at Athens airport.
Passengers scheduled to head to Doha on Monday (June 10) nearly suffocated after the plane’s air-conditioning system stopped working while it was waiting to take off.
The heat resulted in some passengers stripping off their clothes while others fainted.
Some passengers reportedly suffered nosebleeds, while others relied on oxygen masks to help with breathing.
While passengers were stuck in the stifling heat inside the plane, the outside temperature reached a high of 43 degrees Celsius.
A physical confrontation also nearly broke out between passengers and flight crew during the incident.
Smoke was emitting from the aircraft’s rear while it was waiting to take off, prompting airport officials to put fire trucks on standby in case of fire.
The passengers included 49 members of the Thai Muay Thai team returning from the world championship.
Muay Thai athlete Thananchai Sitsongpeenong told reporters that he only spotted the smoke after he got off the plane.
“I consider myself lucky to have survived this,” he told The Nation, adding that he and other passengers were practically melting in the sauna-like heat on board.
Bollywood couple Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal are indeed getting married next week, as confirmed by veteran actor and politician Poonam Dhillon.
There have been many rumors about a planned intimate wedding on June 23 in Mumbai, but neither the actor nor her family has confirmed or denied these reports.
However, Poonam Dhillon, a close friend of the Sinha family and frequent co-star of Sonakshi’s father Shatrughan Sinha, confirmed in a recent interview that the wedding is about to take place. She mentioned receiving a lovely invitation from the couple.
“I wish Sonakshi all the very best. She has sent a lovely invitation,” said Dhillon.
“I have known her since she was a little girl. I have seen her entire journey. I pray to God she stays happy. She is a lovely, warm, very loving girl. So I wish her all the joy and happiness,” she added.
Addressing the groom-to-be, the veteran star requested, “Please keep her happy, Zaheer. She is a lovely girl. She is precious for all of us.”
For those who don’t know, several media outlets reported earlier this week that Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal, who have been in a relationship for over seven years, are getting married.
The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) High court has granted post-arrest bail to Kashmiri poet Ahmad Farhad on Friday.
The court approved the poet’s plea against a surety bond worth Rs200,000. AJK High Court Chief Justice Sadaqat Hussain Raja announced the verdict.
Last week, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) declared Farhad a “missing person” and described his arrest as “illegal.”
According to the court order, the poet has been missing since May 15, and the First Information Report (FIR) against his disappearance was filed at Lohebher Police Station in Islamabad under Sections 427 and 365 PPC.
AJK Chief Justice said in his remarks during the hearing that, “Ahmed Farhad should only write poetry, not journalism”.
Indian actor Geethika Tiwari has spoken out about rumors linking her to Pakistani heartthrob Feroze Khan, following his recent second marriage.
Geethika talked about the rumors in an interview with an Indian publication. One of the most searched questions about her on Google was whether she was in a relationship with Pakistani celebrity Feroze Khan.
Tiwari finally clarified and said, “No, of course not.”
She continued, “But I would say that he is a genuinely nice person.”
“I’ve learned a lot from him—respect, dedication, patience, and, of course, love,” she added excitedly. “I just want to say this. He is a sweetheart.”
In response to a video post on Instagram, the ‘Khumar’ star commented, “Honestly, it takes one to recognise one. So I must say you’re a beautiful human being yourself.”
Feroze Khan and Geethika Tiwari will soon be appearing together in the upcoming film ‘Luck Lag Gayi’.
The video features large tables inside the mosque on which Israeli soldiers had placed various types of food items.
A sticker affixed to a cardboard food box used by soldiers is also shown, with a production date of May 22, which is likely when the video was shot.
Israeli military vehicles also appear stationed inside the Rafah border crossing near the mosque.
Israel has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.
More than 37,200 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, most of them women and children, and more than 84,900 others injured, according to local health authorities.
Eight months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lay in ruins amid rampant starvation.
