1. Senior analyst Nusrat Javed has predicted that the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, will be taken into “military custody” in the coming days. On the other hand, Hamid Mir has claimed that efforts are being made to put Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi back into jail because the government is wary of the possibility of Bibi joining PTI’s tehreek starting November 9.
2. Yesterday marked International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, and according to UNESCO, more than 50% of journalist killings were documented in “crisis- and conflict-zones” in 2023, with the figures persistently at a high in the first six months of 2024.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has ranked Pakistan 12th out of the 13 “worst offenders”, whereas Geo reports that this year alone, six journalists were killed while 11 assassination attempts were made.
Speaking of fear and lack of freedom, the federal government has proposed amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act under which any person with “reasonable suspicion” can be arrested and held in custody for three months, considering the “current security situation.”
3. 30 bottled water brands have been deemed undrinkable by the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) with the presence of microbiological and chemical contamination.
Among the 12 brands are Natural Pure Life, Bro H2O, Purifa Spring Water, Aqua Health, Meher Natural, Mountain Pure, Oslo, Smart Pure, Fijji, More Plus, Qudrat, and Natural, declared unsafe for having high levels of sodium.
The remaining two brands, Black Seed Water and Natural, have increased turbidity levels.
Turbidity is the “cloudiness” of a liquid caused by tiny particles, like sediments and microorganisms — the higher the turbidity, the more polluted water is and the harder it is to disinfect it.
4. Pakistan is experiencing an upward trend in inflation, with the inflation rate rising to 7.17 per cent on an annualised basis in October.
According to data released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics, the average inflation rate measured by the Consumer Price Index has been recorded at 8.68 per cent during the first four months of the fiscal year 2025 (July to October).
5. The government plans to propose a major change to help people from the middle classes who want to go for Hajj. According to the submitted plan, which has yet to be approved by the federal cabinet, pilgrims will be able to pay their Hajj expenses in three instalments instead of a single payment.
This is reportedly a part of a wider Hajj policy expected to be approved by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. As per the details of the instalments, pilgrims will pay a total of Rs 1.1 million in three payments, with an initial deposit of Rs 200,000 required when applying. On selection from a lucky draw, an additional Rs 400,000 will have to be paid, with the final amount payable before departure.
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1. Did you know that suicide risk is highest on Mondays around the globe? A research study led by Yoonhee Kim, an associate professor at the University of Tokyo, has connected the beginning of the workweek to an increase in cases.
15-18% of worldwide suicides have been recorded on a Monday — a pattern observed in many countries across North America, Asia, and Europe.
The analysis, which examined data from 740 locations in 26 countries over nearly 50 years, reveals that weekends generally have lower suicide rates in most regions.
However, in Central and South America, Finland, and South Africa, the chances of suicide increase over the weekend, indicating the cultural and societal factors that influence mental health trends across the globe.
2. Google is developing an AI technology called “Project Jarvis” that can control computers and do tasks like research and shopping through a web browser, particularly Chrome.
It will carry out online tasks by interpreting screenshots and interacting with web pages.
The AI will be publically shared in December along with the Gemini language model, but this timeline isn’t certain. Google may first test Jarvis with a small group to fix any issues.
3. According to Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi, about 45,000 to 50,000 passport applications are being received by the ministry on daily — a number that exceeds the production capacity and is consequently creating a backlog.
The Machine Readable Passport (MRP) system was established in 2004 for 30 regional offices and 10 missions abroad, which has not been upgraded despite the number of offices increasing to 223 and missions to 93.
Now, the production facility can only manage 20,000 to 22,000 applications per day, which has caused long delays. To tackle the issue, the government has made the production facility operational 24/7 in three shifts.
The move has been made after reports of citizens facing delays of up to two months, affecting patients in need of urgent medical treatment, students applying to foreign universities, and those seeking work visas.
4. Pakistan’s opener, Fakhar Zaman, is reportedly considering retirement after being dropped from the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) central contract, according to Urdupoint.
The batter has been asked to undergo another fitness test in January, revealing double standards. Usman Khan stopped during the third round of the 2-kilometre run but not only received a contract but also made it into the squad.
5. People in Karachi have recently been actively protesting various issues. This week began with a Climate March, where participants carried placards and banners against climate change, highlighting anti-environmental policies.
Participants also held the Palestinian flag.
Speakers at the Friar Hall Climate March addressed issues such as deforestation, rising sea levels, and melting glaciers in a heatwave-wrapped world.
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1. Teachers in Punjab have boycotted the Training Need Assessment (TNA) test — an examination which evaluates their training needs in the School Education Department (SED).
The government created the TNA App to help in efficient online testing using multiple-choice questions to assess key teaching skills, and helping to identify areas for professional growth.
With 720 centres set up for the test, and 60 teachers expected at each location, around 43,000 primary school teachers (PSTs) were supposed to take the test over the weekend but only 80 showed up.
2. The Swat River has been diverted for the Mohmand Dam project, confirmed by Asim Rauf Khan, Project Director and General Manager of WAPDA, and Chief Engineer Fasih Ullah.
About 35% of the dam is built, and 98% of the tunnel work is done. When finished, the dam is expected to generate 800 megawatts of electricity each year, with completion set for 2027.
It will store 1.29 million acre-feet of water, manage floods, produce low-cost electricity, and deliver 300 million gallons of drinking water to Peshawar every day.
3. With on-going tensions in the middle east and Iran being one of Israeli targets, Pakistan is now closely monitoring air traffic entering its airspace. Pakistani air traffic control is now reviewing all incoming flights from the west to ensure safety.
And now that Iran has closed its airspace, flights passing through Iran are now redirected through Muscat which is affecting a number of international routes and has resulted in increased security checks for planes coming from the west.
4. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially announced Mohammad Rizwan as the new captain for the ODI and T20 teams, with Salman Ali Agha as the vice-captain. This decision comes after former captain Babar Azam stepped down from his role earlier this month. Rizwan will lead the team in the upcoming limited-overs tours of Australia and Zimbabwe.
Apart from this PCB has finalized the central contract list for the 2024-25 season, which will be effective from July 1, 2024.
Notably, Fakhar Zaman has not been awarded a central contract this time around. His exclusion is speculated to be due to his dissent towards PCB regarding the dropping of Babar Azam from the squad and his failure in fitness tests.
5. Manufacturers of essential foreign goods in Pakistan have not seen a major declines. In comparison, sales of foreign soft drinks, bottled water, and fast food have dropped amid consumer boycotts of Israeli products.
Dawn highlighted that sales for Nestlé Pakistan were Rs 149.2 billion for the nine months ending September 30 —- a slight drop of 1.3% from Rs151 billion the previous year.
1. In general, people believe that the more secluded and mildly populated a place is, the less polluted and corrupted it would be. But it seems like that is not always the case because surprisingly, all water samples collected from the beautiful region of Gilgit have been found to be 100 per cent contaminated, making the water unsuitable for drinking.
Similarly, samples from the Sindh cities of Mirpurkhas and Shaheed Benazirabad are also deemed completely unsafe for human consumption.
Details presented by the Ministry of Water Resources in the National Assembly reveal that 94% of drinking water in Multan, 93% in Karachi, and 92% in Badin is contaminated.
In Bahawalpur, 76% of the water is polluted, while Sargodha has 83% unsafe water, and Faisalabad and Sheikhupura report 59% and 60%, respectively, of their water being unfit for drinking.
In Abbottabad and Khuzdar, 55% of the water is contaminated, with Loralai and Quetta showing 59%. Meanwhile, 80% of drinking water in Hyderabad, 67% in Sukkur, and 70% in Muzaffar is also unsafe.
Following the 18th Amendment, the responsibility for ensuring safe drinking water and enhancing its quality now lies with the provincial governments.
2. According to the World Justice Project’s (WJP) Rule of Law Index for 2024, Pakistan has ~ slightly ~ improved, climbing one spot to rank 129th out of (wait for it…) 142 countries evaluated.
In the global category of order and security, Pakistan ranks 140th i.e. the third worst in the world.
Regionally, Pakistan is fifth out of six South Asian countries evaluated and while an overall score indicates decline from 2019 to 2023, the 2024 report shows a change in this trend after five years of decline.
3. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts that Pakistan’s inflation rate, which has decreased from 29% to 12.6% this year, will further fall to 10.6% by 2025, according to Jihad Azour, the IMF’s Director for the Middle East and Central Asia.
In a recent statement regarding Pakistan’s economic outlook, Azour noted that the country’s economy is anticipated to grow at a rate of 3.2% in the 2024-25 fiscal year, indicating a positive sign of economic recovery.
4. New Zealand defeated India in the second Test to take a decisive lead of 2-0 in the three-match series.
In the match played in Pune, New Zealand defeated India by 113 runs.
Chasing New Zealand’s 359 runs on the third day of play, the Indian team was bowled out for 245 runs.
After 12 years, India has lost a Test series at home.
5. According to the recent data by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the local manufacturing sector maintained its upward trend in September 2024, with domestic companies producing or assembling 2.15 million units.
22.59 million locally manufactured or assembled mobile phones were sold in nine months which marks a 74% year-on-year increase.
Gold price in Pakistan resumed its upward trend on Saturday after dropping in the previous two trading sessions.
According to the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA), which releases gold rates on a daily basis, the price of the precious metal increased by Rs2,000 per tola to Rs284,300.
The ten-gramme gold price was also recorded up by Rs1,714, reaching Rs243,741, which means the gold rate currently stands at Rs24,374 per gramme in Pakistani market.
Silver prices in the country remained unchanged and were traded at Rs3,350 per tola.
Gold prices also increased in the international market as the price per ounce was recorded at $2,748 after observing an increase of $22.
Notably, before today’s gain, the gold price had increased for seven straight sessions before witnessing a decline on October 24 and 25. The gold price recorded a total loss of Rs3,100 per tola this week, falling Rs2,300 per tola on Thursday and Rs800 per tola on Friday.
Interestingly, the gold rate in Pakistan was recorded at its historic peak of Rs285,400 per tola. The latest price of gold is about Rs1,100 lower than the historic high observed this week.
As gold is considered a hedge against economic and political uncertainties, the demand for the yellow metal is on the rise internationally as Middle East tensions and uncertainty regarding the upcoming US election spurred demand for safe-haven assets.
Senator Faisal Vawda, known for his tall claims, has alleged on a political talk show at ARY News that Bushra Bibi, former Prime Minister’s wife, will be released from jail on the 26th of this month while meetings with Imran Khan in Adiala Jail will continue as usual.
“She will be completely free, and no new cases will be made against her once her bail is granted. Regular meetings with Imran Khan will be resumed,” claimed the senator.
On October 23, Bushra Bibi was granted bail in the new Toshakhana Case by the Islamabad High Court; however, despite PTI’s utmost attempts, she has not been released from prison.
According to PTI’s legal team, the judges suddenly became absent, and the entire judicial complex was empty. When the lawyers approached the third and fourth judges on duty, they refused to sign the release papers.
Treasury members in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Wednesday condemned the non-release of Bushra Bibi despite her bail.
Vawda also alleged, “The entire leadership of PTI is compromised, and Khan in jail is actually a good thing for them.”
1. Social media apps are still interrupted from time to time, while the internet remains slow and yet, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has reported that incidents of WhatsApp hacking are rapidly increasing in Pakistan.
1,426 complaints have been received in the last four months. The FIA, so far, has recovered 549 hacked accounts, but 877 complaints remain under investigation.
This increase also calls for users to strengthen their online security through strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and caution with suspicious links.
Hacking tactics include creating fake WhatsApp profiles using stolen photos of victims’ friends and family. They then send messages to gain the victims’ trust and ask for personal information or verification codes to access their accounts.
2. India is likely to support Pakistan’s bid to join the BRICS bloc, an alliance that challenges the economic monopoly of the West, Indian media has reported. Indian media has speculated that following Russia’s influence on India, News Delhi may vote in favour of Pakistan joining the BRICS.
“One of the key takeaways of the summit is likely to be India’s green signal to Pakistan’s long-pending bid for membership in the bloc,” ABP Live reported.
Pakistan applied for membership in BRICS in August 2023; following this, other countries, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia, also formally applied to become members of the bloc.
3. The Council of Islamic Ideology has recommended that the government make the practice of giving three talaqs at once punishable. In a meeting chaired by Dr. Muhammad Raghib Hussain Naimi, the Council also suggested increasing the punishment for violating the Dowry Act from six months to one year and adjusting marriage expenses to equalise costs. They decided to send a previously prepared draft on this subject to the federal government.
Punjab police have proposed making domestic violence a non-bailable offence and amending the Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act (PPWVA-2016) to include a Rs 1 million fine for offenders. IG Police Dr. Usman Anwar submitted this proposal to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, citing concerns that most domestic violence suspects escape legal action. Currently, only 6% of incidents result in FIRs due to a lack of clear legal definitions. The proposed changes aim to strengthen protections for women and ensure better enforcement against domestic violence in Punjab.
4. The IMF forecasts that global economic growth will stabilise at 3.2% in 2025 and rise to about 3.3% by 2026. This outlook comes amid ongoing inflation and geopolitical uncertainties that are slowing recovery in major economies. In its World Economic Outlook report, the IMF cautioned that persistent inflation, rising energy costs, and geopolitical conflicts could disrupt global trade and investment, affecting some regions more than others.
5. Chinese military drills have been exercised around Taiwan for the past five years, but now, the practice has intensified since Taiwanese polls in April that elected President William Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing has labelled a “dangerous separatist”.
On October 14, Beijing launched large-scale military drills, which included the army, navy, air force and rocket force, after which Taiwan’s defence chief cautioned that a Chinese blockade would be considered an act of war and could have a severe impact on international trade.
These drills came soon after Lai delivered his National Day speech on October 10 and were issued as a “stern warning to the separatist acts of ‘Taiwan Independence’ forces”.
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Messi is not only one of the wealthiest footballers in the world but also the wealthiest sportsman. His career has been characterized by unparalleled talents and contributions to the game that have captured the attention of fans worldwide. Lionel Messi net worth is standing at $650 million as of 2024.
Lionel Messi began his professional career at FC Barcelona, a club he spent nearly two decades at. Here, he became the team’s most acknowledged goalscorer. He won numerous medals, including the UEFA Champions League and La Liga titles. This saw him elongate his career to becoming the most decorated player in football history.
To know more about Lionel Messi net worth and how he earns this much money, continue reading!
Lionel Messi Net Worth 2024
As of 2024, Lionel Messi net worth is estimated at $650 million.
Lionel Messi age is 37, and he hails from Argentina. He is acknowledged as the greatest soccer player. There are also seven Ballon d’Or medals to his name, which has helped him be regarded as the best left-footed footballer ever. In 2021, Messi vacated the Barcelona club and confirmed his transfer to PS. He showcased his talents to the world again before transferring to Inter Miami in the MLS in 2023 and further elevating his earnings.
How Does Messi Earn This Much Money?
Messi’s primary source of income remains his salary and contracts with his respective football team and games. The widely recognized Argentinian athlete earns a massive figure from his famous branding and properties. To provide a more comprehensive understanding of Messi’s earnings, here is a breakdown of his salary:
Annual Salary: $60,000,000
Monthly Salary: $5,000,000
Weekly Salary: $1,250,000
Daily Salary: $164,384
Hourly Salary: $6,849
Minute Salary: $114.15
Second Salary: $1.90
Below are some of the ways he earns a decent amount of money.
Football – Lionel Messi Inter Miami Player
In 2017, he signed an agreement with Barcelona that made him one of the wealthiest outside Europe, with an average return base of $168 million. Currently, he has an annual salary of $75 million and makes an impressive $900 million in total earnings to date. This puts him at the top of the international team. Lionel Messi, an Inter Miami player, earns a decent living through football.
Endorsements
Every year, Messi makes $40 million from endorsing brands, and he has earned a figure of $400 million so far. Messi also holds an Adidas lifetime deal, earning $130 million between June 2018 and 2019. Messi and Bad Bunny recently collaborated with Adidas for their latest sneaker collection.
David Beckham franchise co-owned Inter Miami Lionel Messi, and the two had a $54 million annual contract. In addition to this contract, the Apple MLS Season Pass also compensates Miami based on subscription revenue. He also signed a three-year contract with Visit Saudi Endorsement. This endorsement paid him $25 million to encourage the nation’s tourism and expand Lionel Messi net worth.
Investments and Real Estate
Messi, in 2009, purchased a property in the Barcelona neighborhood named Pedrables for two million dollars. Today, this house costs around seven million to ten million dollars. Millions went out on the improvements and the furnishing of this house. In November 2019, another $5 million condo in Miami was purchased. His acquisition of a different building took place in April 2021. He paid $7.3 million to take over the ninth floor completely.
The Charity Work Messi does
Messi does much charity work, but only through reliable sources or ventures. He appreciates charities run by trustworthy people or organizations. He may be more sympathetic to such initiatives as he runs his Leo Messi Foundation organization. It was formed in 2007 and focuses on children, sports, and health. Messi actively participated in several initiatives and even sponsored its ambassadors in some campaigns.
In June 2019, he offered to merge his fund with Unicef. He also launched initiatives that promoted sport among poor Hispanic communities and brought attention to children’s art. In June 2020, he made a public statement via his Instagram over the violent protests and riots in the US. He made this statement as a response to the murder of George Floyd by a police officer. He wrote about the USA being “the example to follow” and peaceful protests as a priority of a democratic society.
Lionel Messi’s Social Media Followers
Messi has a significant following on Facebook and Instagram, and he is off Twitter. There is a ‘Team Messi’ owned by Adidas. The overall total number of Instagram followers is 504 million. Furthermore, his Facebook account stands at 115 million. He gives his fans a sneak peek of what goes on in the Messi house every once in a while. He posted pictures of himself with his wife and children and sometimes invited friends like Cesc Fabregas and Luis Suarez for vacations.
Leon Messi And Inter Miami Success
Inter Miami has always been different since signing Messi. After seeing the 2023 season’s booming revenues, the franchise made a business decision that saw the player earn $150 million for signing with them. When Messi put his feet on the pitch on July 15, 2023, Inter Miami’s profits skyrocketed to more than 200 percent.
With Messi’s arrival in the league, Inter Miami’s $50-$60 million in revenue in 2022 would rapidly shift to about $120-$130 million the following year. And the team is estimated to gain over $200 million by the end of 2024. Such frequent and significant changes set new records for the club. Messi has a contract with the MLS franchise until 2025, with a clause for an additional year. This has made fans believe that the most outstanding player in history will pitch in Miami Freedom Park. Because Messi’s presence creates an opportunity to take advantage of the moment, the franchise is pushing season ticket sales and potential sponsors.
Lionel Messi Inter Miami Contract
Lionel Messi Inter Miami has a contract until the 2025 season, with a clause for an additional year. This has made fans believe that the most outstanding player in history will pitch in Miami Freedom Park. Because Messi’s presence creates an opportunity to take advantage of the moment, the franchise is pushing season ticket sales and potential sponsors.
Actress Ayeza Khan in one of her public appearances in London, shared that she has started appreciating her husband more after ‘Mere Paas Tum Ho.’
The drama serial ‘Mere Paas Tum Ho’, aired on ARY Digital in 2019, was a blockbuster and was written by the controversial Khalil ur Rehman. It was not only appreciated but also criticized for portraying the lead character as a greedy, gold-digger woman.
Ayeza Khan played the role of the lead character who was running after money while actor Humayun Saeed portrayed her impoverished husband.
Recently, Khan expressed her feelings during a fund-raising event for Palestine in the UK and said, “the role of ‘Mehwish’ in the drama serial ‘Mere Paas Tum Ho’ made me respect my husband Danish Taimoor more than ever and taught me to appreciate him more.”
She added, “During my career I believe in working in dramas that have a good message and lesson for the audience.”
She further said, “Whenever I choose a project, I also consider whether I can learn something from the story or the character.”
The price of gold in Pakistan surged past Rs260,000 per tola for the first time, driven by increasing expectations of a potential interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve in September. The 24-karat gold rate rose by Rs2,500, reaching Rs260,200 per tola.
According to the Karachi Sarafa Association, today’s price is kept significantly lower by Rs4,500 than its actual value.
On the international stage, spot gold saw a 3.1 per cent increase this week, reaching $2,507 per ounce. The precious metal has gained over 20 per cent this year, fueled by growing expectations of monetary easing and significant purchases by central banks.
In the domestic market, the price of 24-karat gold was quoted at Rs223,080 per 10 grammes, reflecting an increase of Rs2,144. Similarly, the price of 22-karat gold rose to Rs204,490 per 10 grammes.
Silver prices also climbed in the domestic market, with 24-karat silver selling at Rs2,950 per tola, an increase of Rs50, and Rs2,529 per 10 grammes, up by Rs43.
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