Blog

Daily round-up: Oct. 29, 2024
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.

For more daily updates, sign up for our Newsletter.
October 29, 2024
Ramiz Raja responds to ‘controversial’ interview with Shan Masood

Commentator and former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has broken silence over criticism regarding his “belittling” conversation with national Test captain Shan Masood.

In his vlog, Ramiz Raja clarified that his intention was never to belittle Shan Masood. “It is my right to question the players, and everyone will gain respect from Pakistan’s success,” he said.

Ramiz Raja stated that no one watched the complete interview so that he won’t comment on it. He explained that his question was about the chaos after losing six matches. “I asked Shan Masood how he developed patience after those losses. Shan Masood is the age of my son, and we often discuss batting,” he added.

Ramiz Raja mentioned that he questioned Shan Masood about his issues with playing shots towards the league side. “After one win, we forget that we have many milestones to achieve. When Pakistan lost six Test matches, I did not say to remove Shan Masood. I don’t pay attention to social media talk. There is a lot of politics to keep me under pressure. People who haven’t played cricket are talking about it, and it seems that Pakistan cricket only lives on social media,” he remarked.

Ttwo days ago, Pakistan defeated England by nine wickets in the third and decisive Test match, winning the series 1-2, thanks to their spinners’ excellent bowling. This victory marked Pakistan’s first home Test series win in almost three and a half years, with their last home series win in January 2021 against South Africa.

However, despite this crucial win against England, commentator Ramiz Raja engaged in a non-serious conversation with captain Shan Masood. During the post-match conversation, Ramiz Raja sarcastically remarked on Shan Masood’s six failures as captain and suggested that spinner Noman Ali might be anaemic.

This behaviour drew severe criticism on social media. Users strongly disapproved of Ramiz Raja’s attitude at such a moment, stating that publicly insulting the national team’s captain is inappropriate.

Meanwhile, the PCB has also expressed its concerns to the broadcasters over this matter. The PCB wrote a letter to the broadcasters, informing them of Ramiz Raja’s behaviour and expressing their reservations.

October 28, 2024
Little girl’s wish: Diljit invites young fan to his concert

During his Dil-luminati tour in Delhi, Indian Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh touched millions of hearts with kindness.

A viral video showed a young fan enjoying the Dosanjh concert from her terrace near Diljit concert asking, “Diljit uncle thoda tez chila dou.”

He responded on Instagram saying, “Beta, come I have tickets for you and your family.”

True to his word, Diljit gifted passes to the girl and her uncle for the next show.

The girl Naina’s uncle Kunal Sharma thanked Diljit in an Instagram post.

“Thank You Diljit Sir ❤️ for making our Day ❤️ ,You made our day providing us FANpit passes,” Kunal Sharma wrote.

October 28, 2024
Can trade with India guide Pakistan out of the darkness?

Independent power producers and business owners in the pharmaceutical industry worriedly watched the developments of the World Bank meetings on Sunday. This is because, during the IMF and World Bank meetings, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb stressed the importance of trade links with India.

Pakistan is a net importer of power and pharmaceutical products, which ensures that businesses operating in these fields face little local competition. But if Islamabad lifts the red tape on trade with New Delhi, the Wagha-Attari border is bound to see major truck movement. This is because India is a net exporter of power and pharmaceuticals – which Pakistan could buy.

If trade is to open up, importers in Pakistan might become inclined to purchase medicines from India as opposed to the United States – which is extremely far away compared to India. This is likely to reduce shipping times from 44 days down to under a day in optimal conditions. Due to reduced travel times and costs, there might be an increase in the import value of pharmaceutical products – a figure that stood at $1.38 billion in 2022.

The Pakistani pharmaceutical industry saw a 15.3 per cent growth in 2023, with more growth projected for the near future. However, if trade restrictions are reduced, the current growth levels of the pharmaceutical sector could take a serious hit. This will be due to the world-class quality of the medicines of the well-established Indian pharmaceutical industry.

Fewer restrictions on trade with India are likely to spell bad news for local pharmaceutical companies as the introduction of extra competition flooding the market with low-price medicine will reduce both growth rates and profit margins.

Additionally, with Pakistan importing over $13 million in electricity in 2023, the possibility of importing Indian electricity is an attractive one. This is because India could offer more competitive rates on their electricity than our current trading partner, Iran.

Moreover, if India is to sign power deals with Pakistan at beneficial rates, independent power producers might sense danger, too. This is due to the fact that earlier this month, five of them were let go as Islamabad terminated their contracts.

However, if trade is to open up, it will significantly contribute towards a welfare increase for citizens. This is because consumers will have a wider variety of goods to choose from in addition to lower prices.

Local businesses, however, will also have to reduce their prices accordingly if they want to ensure that a steady stream of customers purchase their products.

A few local industries might be able to capitalize on normalizing trade relations with India. These could be the sports and cement industries. With Indian cement exports falling over 65 per cent from 2015-2022 to meet domestic demand, Pakistan’s cement industry could step in and capitalize on Indian demand.

Most importantly, on a macro level, the normalization of trade and restoration of Pak-India relations will likely result in a great deal of prosperity for Pakistan. This is because the economic binding and strengthening of trade links between the two nations will reduce the political tensions – and the resources that are expended on said tensions.

With Aurangzeb’s mindset on achieving economic prosperity, the main question on everyone’s minds is whether this plan will ever come to fruition. The answer can only be found with time.

October 28, 2024

Exchange rates: Rupee closes at Rs277.68 against US dollar

The Pakistani rupee (PKR) recorded a marginal decline against the US dollar, depreciating 0.01 per cent in the interbank market on Monday.

According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), PKR wrapped up first trading day of the week at Rs277.68 after experiencing a loss of four paisa versus the greenback.

During the current fiscal year, Pakistani currency has gone up by 66 paisa or 0.24 per cent against the dollar. While it has appreciated more than Rs4 or 1.51 per cent so far this calendar year.

During the previous week, PKR weakened marginally as it depreciated three paisa or 0.01 per cent against the US dollar.

The dollar index has climbed 3.6 per cent to 104.49 during October, its sharpest monthly rise in more than two years.

In the open market, local money exchangers quoted the American currency at Rs278.62 for selling and Rs276.75 for buying.

As compared to other foreign currencies, the home unit remained largely stable despite minor fluctuations.

Currency	Change (Paisa)	Change (%)	Today’s rate (PKR)	Last close (PKR)
Euro	62.43	0.21 per cent	299.97	300.59
Japanese Yen	1.64	0.90 per cent	1.8105	1.8269
British Pound	14.39	0.04 per cent	360.06	360.20
Chinese Yuan	2.85	0.07 per cent	38.95	38.98
Saudi Riyal	1.82	0.02 per cent	73.94	73.96
UAE Dirham	1.07	0.01 per cent	75.60	75.61
Swiss Franc	36.12	0.11 per cent	320.00	320.36

Exchange rates

Against the Pound, PKR appreciated 14.39 paisa or 0.04 per cent and closed at Rs360.06.

PKR increased 62.43 paisa or 0.21 per cent against the Euro, closing at Rs299.97.

The local unit was reported 36.12 paisa or 0.11 per cent up against Swiss franc to end the session at Rs320.

Pakistani currency fell by 1.07 paisa or 0.01 per cent against the UAE Dirham to close at Rs75.60.

PKR’s value against the Japanese Yen rose 1.64 paisa or 0.90 per cent to close the day at Rs1.8105.

The local unit increased 2.85 paisa or 0.07 per cent against Chinese Yuan to close at Rs38.95.

The local currency shed 1.82 paisa or 0.02 per cent against Saudi Riyal to Rs73.94.

October 28, 2024

Sher Afzal Marwat fears governor rule in KP ‘because of Ali Amin Gandapur’

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Sher Afzal Marwat has suggested handing over the authority of holding party protests to someone else in place of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur, fearing that existing practice could lead to imposition of governor’s rule in the province.

“I have no disagreement with Ali Amin Gandapur and I, in fact, admire him. However, Ali Amin is the CM and other parties, including Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), unfairly benefit from his involvement in the protest,” Marwat said while speaking to a private media outlet.

Expressing concern over the possible imposition of governor’s rule in KP, Marwat said that the federal government, on the pretext of using provincial government’s machinery in PTI’s protest, could impose governor’s rule.

Marwat stated that PTI leadership should take the lead in the protests instead of Ali Amin Gandapur. “We can benefit from Gandapur’s support.”

He also stressed the need for the formation of a committee to plan party protests.

“Our priority should be the release of PTI founder Imran Khan from jail,” he said.

October 28, 2024

Kevin Hart Net Worth 2024: How He Made This Money

Kevin Hart is a well-known American comedian, producer, marketer, and actor. He is one of the wealthiest entertainers worldwide. Kevin Hart net worth is $450 million as of 2024. During an excellent touring year, he can rake between $50 and $60 million from every market. For example, from August 2015 until August 2016, Kevin collected $90 million from tours, movies, merchandise, endorsements and more.

During the initial stages of his career, Kevin Hart can be seen all over the US performing his standup acts in different clubs and venues. His fanbase was not built overnight, as he became known for his unique storytelling, energetic performance, and relatability through his comedy. Keep reading to learn more about this hard-working entertainer!

Real Name	Kevin Darnell Hart
Kevin Hart’s Net Worth	$450 million
Kevin Hart Woth Net in Rupees	Rs. 162,118,260,000
Salary	Varies (Depends on project & Endorsement)
Date of Birth	July 6, 1979
Birth Place	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Height	5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Nationality	American
Profession	Comedian, Actor, Producer
Gender	Male

Kevin Hart Net Worth

Kevin Hart, the comedian who barely ever reaches his mid-height, is loaded. Kevin Hart’s net worth estimate of $450 million in 2024 is fueled by staggering earnings of around $59 million from July 2018 to June 2019 alone. This seems likely because Hart holds 85% of Heartbeat, a new media company with a whopping value of $650 million.

Hard work and timeliness are the largely overlooked heroes behind Hart’s punching humor. This is how, in a short period, he has made considerable wealth.

Make Money Per Show

A million dollars is how much one of Kevin Hart’s live standup shows makes, at least on average (to put it another way, dollars worth of revenue). It’s always hard to estimate how much real money Hart would take home after paying everyone and everything that has to be paid.

Per Tour

Holland has been making serious money during his tour. From 2015 through 2016, Hart was on a tour-themed “What Now?” It reportedly earned him a whopping 70 million dollars. Profits from tours are Hart’s prime business, considering they are one of the most potent ways to generate funds within the shortest span of time.

Annual Income

Hart’s earnings statistics vary every year due to the nature of his projects or whether he makes a tour. On average, he earns about $40 million to $60 million during the year. Kevin will not need to work anymore unless he wishes to with such a salary. However, it indicates that he loves his work.

Money Made From Comedy

Kevin Hart net worth is mainly due to his standup shows. Some estimates suggest that at least $90 million of Kevin Hart’s net worth can also be contributed to comedy. But honestly, all his fortune started in there at best. It was a comedy that made the man famous!

Per Movie

When it comes to movies, Hart’s payment depends on how big or small a character he plays. Hart is said to get $20 million in advance and an estimated $20 million on average when he appears as the picture’s main character. He might get much more than that, depending on the profitability of the movies or streaming agreements.

Commercials

Another highly profitable arena for Hart is commercial endorsements and branding deals. In a SiriusXM advertisement, he was self-deprecating.

How much does Kevin Hart get from endorsements?

Besides simply acting in commercials, Hart also had endorsement contracts with Fabletics, H&M, Hyundai, Foot Locker, Tommy John, Old Spice, Nike, and others.

Referring to his commercial appeal, Hart stated, “I’m not a threat, and that is exactly why I’m allowed to be marketed to every audience of every age. It doesn’t matter your race, your size, or ethnicity.”

Personal Life

Kevin was previously married to a fellow comedian, Torrei Hart. The couple stayed married from 2003 to 2010. Although they had two children, the couple divorced later on. Hart sought joint custody of their two children, daughter Heaven Leigh in 2005 and son Hendrix in 2007. In November 2011, the couple officially announced their separation after 6 years.

Hart married Eniko Parrish on August 13, 2016, and they have a son, Kenzo Kash, who was born in November 2017. Hart cheated on his wife while she was expecting Kenzo. Kaori Mai is the couple’s second child.

Kevin has explicitly said he did not enjoy a close bond with his father. And the reason for this type of relationship is his aggressive nature. His father, Henry Witherspoon, had an addiction for many years. It strained their father-son relationship and Kevin’s childhood in general. His father remained absent due to incarceration during his formative years. During Kevin’s family crises, Kevin made people laugh with their humorous presence. He appreciates his mother in the speech, but sadly, she passed away in 2006 because of cancer.

October 28, 2024

People were paid to troll me: Nadia Khan

Television host and actress Nadia Khan shared that she was a target of organized trolling, with people being paid to criticize her.

During her appearance on Hasna Mana Hai, Nadia talked about how concentrated negativity was often aimed at her Ramazan and other TV shows.

The host Tabish Hashmi asked, “The question is, I noticed during your recent Ramadan show that it often seemed like some things were being forced, with a lot of questions being asked and controversies forming around how Nadia Khan was questioning people?”

Nadia replied, “If this had happened a few years ago, there wouldn’t have been any issues, but now there’s a new model of policing on social media. Different channels and people work against each other. When a new show starts, people on social media claim that money is being paid to troll you.”

She emphasized the pressures she faced from industry rivals, explaining, “I was told that to counter this, I should also spend money on it. I said don’t have extra money for such nonsense. I decided to let it be, but I have to say that this is a reality. A new trend was emerging, and if it had become a hit, other channels would have been uncomfortable with it. Money was indeed spent to troll that show, to create viral content against it.”

Nadia is currently leading her show Kya Drama Hai on Channel 24, where

October 28, 2024
Bishnoi community takes to streets, burns effigy after Salim Khan says ‘Salman is innocent’

Members of the notorious Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang burnt effigies of superstar Salman Khan and his father Salim Khan in the desert city of Jaipur.

In a recent interview given to the Indian media, Salim Khan responded to accusations against his son Salman Khan about hunting blackbucks and said, “Salman Khan is innocent, he can never hurt any animal.”

The participants of the protest said, “We are Bishnois, we don’t defame anyone without reason. When the case was registered 26 years ago, there were many dignitaries including MLAs of the Bishnoi community. Salim Khan, by giving false statements, cannot mislead people.”

Bishnoi community said, “The community was hurt by Salim Khan’s statement, we will do our best for justice in the Blackbuck case and will protest on the streets.”

October 28, 2024
‘I’m not public property’: Alizeh Shah hits back at fans criticising her clothing

Actress Alizeh Shah has responded to critics who are trolling her fashion choices while she’s on vacation in the United States.

Posting on her Instagram Stories, she questioned those who criticize her clothing choices, asking if it’s her problem if they don’t like what she wears.

“I know that being a Pakistani and having a different style bothers a lot of people, but is that my problem,” she wrote angrily.

Alizeh, who has acted with big stars like Mahira Khan and Bilal Ashraf in the movie Superstar, pointed out the “hypocrisy” of people who “enjoy watching Pakistani actresses wearing a small blouse and lehnga in movies, but call us out when we wear what we like. Why?”

At the end of her message, she said she’s “done tolerating” the constant backlash from trolls.

“I AM A PUBLIC FIGURE, not a PUBLIC PROPERTY, so keep your opinions to yourself! I’m done tolerating!” she added.

In another story, Alizeh expressed her frustration with the “haters.”

“I honestly feel sorry for you haters. You’re just obsessed! Hating on me just because YOU didn’t get enough love?” she added.

She frequently shares photos and videos of herself enjoying life. However, she regularly receives negative comments about her outfits on Instagram, and this isn’t the first time she’s had to respond to trolls.

Back in May, Alizeh was also criticized for her clothing choices, which led her to speak out again.

“I find all the memes and criticism amusing. But, strangely, a trivial topic like this is trending in our country instead of us raising our voices for Palestine. What’s wrong with people?” she wrote on her Instagram stories.

October 28, 2024