Irfan Mehsood, the world record holder who made a century of Guinness World Records, has returned the prize check of five lacs rupees, displaying unhappiness with the behavior of the officials of the Sports Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
Irfan was given a prize check of PKR five lac rupees in recognition of his services but the player returned the check to the office staff of the Sports Advisor.
Irfan Mehsood told Geo News, “The behavior of the officials of the sports department was disgraceful. If the sports authorities cannot respect the players, then do not call them to their offices for some money.”
He said that officials of the sports department were bargaining with him that two or three lacs would be enough.
Sports officials have said that they are not aware of the check being returned.
India’s six-week election juggernaut resumed Friday with millions of people lining up outside polling stations in parts of the country hit by a scorching heatwave.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is widely expected to win a third term in the election, which concludes in early June.
But turnout in the first round of voting last week dropped nearly four points to 66 percent from the last election in 2019, with speculation in Indian media outlets that higher-than-average temperatures were to blame.
Modi took to social media shortly before polls re-opened to urge those voting to turn out in “record numbers” despite the heat.
“A high voter turnout strengthens our democracy,” he wrote on social media platform X. “Your vote is your voice!”
The second round of the poll — conducted in phases to ease the immense logistical burden of staging an election in the world’s most populous country — includes districts that have this week seen temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
AFP – MOHAMMED
India’s weather bureau said Thursday that severe heatwave conditions would continue in several states through the weekend.
That includes parts of the eastern state of Bihar, where five districts are voting Friday and where temperatures more than 5.1 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average were recorded this week.
Karnataka state in the south and parts of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state and heartland of the Hindu faith, are also scheduled to vote while facing heatwave conditions.
Earlier this week, India’s election commission said it had formed a task force to review the impact of heatwaves and humidity before each round of voting.
The Hindu newspaper suggested the decision could have been taken out of concerns that the intense heat “might have resulted in a dip in voter turnout”.
In a Monday statement, the commission said it had “no major concern” about the impact of hot temperatures on Friday’s vote.
AFP – SHARMA
But it added that it had been closely monitoring weather reports and would ensure “the comfort and well-being of voters along with polling personnel”.
A wave of exceptionally hot weather has blasted South and Southeast Asia, prompting thousands of schools across the Philippines and Bangladesh to suspend in-person classes.
The heat disrupted campaigning in India on Wednesday when roads minister Nitin Gadkari fainted at a rally for Modi in Maharashtra state.
Footage of the speech showed Gadkari falling unconscious and being carried off the stage by handlers. He later blamed the incident on discomfort “due to the heat”.
Years of scientific research have found climate change is causing heatwaves to become longer, more frequent and more intense.
AFP – SHARMA
Friday will also see voting in the constituency of India’s most prominent opposition leader — Rahul Gandhi of the once-dominate Congress party.
The 53-year-old is fighting to retain his seat in the southern state of Kerala, a stronghold for opponents of Modi’s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“It is the duty of every citizen to become a soldier of the constitution, step out of their homes today and vote to protect democracy,” he wrote on X.
Gandhi is the son, grandson and great-grandson of former prime ministers, but his Congress party has suffered two landslide defeats against Modi in the last two general elections.
Gandhi has been hamstrung by several criminal cases lodged against him by BJP members, including a conviction for criminal libel that saw him briefly disqualified from parliament last year.
The opposition alliance has accused Modi’s government of using law enforcement agencies to selectively target its leaders and undermine its campaign.
More than 968 million people are eligible to take part in India’s election, with the final round of voting on June 1 and results expected three days later.
In the fourth T20 match, New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 4 runs in Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam won the toss and invited New Zealand to bat first.
New Zealand inning:
Batting first, New Zealand scored 178 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
New Zealand’s Tim Robinson scored 51 runs and Dan Foxcroft scored 34 runs, while Tom Blundell scored 28 runs and Michael Bracewell scored 27 runs, Josh Clarkson was dismissed for zero.
On behalf of Pakistan, Abbas Afridi dismissed 3 players, Usama Mir and Iftikhar Ahmed also got one wicket each.
Pakistan inning:
The national team managed to score 174 runs for 8 wickets in pursuit of the target of 179 runs.
Fakhar Zaman scored 61 runs on behalf of Pakistan, Iftikhar Ahmed scored 23 runs, Saeem Ayub scored 20 runs and Usman Khan scored 16 runs. Imad Wasim was not out with 22 runs.
Last match of this series will be played on April 27 in Gaddafi cricket stadium.
A report by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) reveals that foreign aid to Pakistan, despite commitments exceeding $200 billion, has failed to deliver sustainable economic growth.
The report, titled “Foreign Aid Donors and Consultants Analysing Pakistan’s Foreign Aid Inflows and Their Outcomes,” highlights that while about $155 billion has been disbursed from the committed amount, there’s little evidence that these funds have significantly improved Pakistan’s economy.
PIDE finds that the aid has not met key criteria for effective foreign aid, as outlined in the influential Millikan-Rostow report.
These criteria include the ability to transfer resources without creating future liabilities, avoiding source-tied aid, promoting sustainable economic development, increasing the marginal savings rate to drive capital formation, and supporting development programmes that enable productive use of additional capital.
The PIDE report notes that Pakistan’s aid programmes fail to meet these benchmarks.
According to Mettis Global, the research acknowledges some positive outcomes in specific sectors, such as the United Nations-led vaccination efforts, which have improved public health.
However, it also points out that this success has led to greater dependency on external sources for vaccines, raising questions about the long-term sustainability of such programmes.
Overall, the report suggests that despite the significant amount of foreign aid received, Pakistan’s economy has not experienced the desired transformation.
Even when examining Official Development Assistance (ODA) by sector, the improvements are marginal and do not lead to substantial aggregate economic growth.
This finding raises concerns about Pakistan’s reliance on foreign aid and underscores the need for more effective and sustainable economic policies.
Samsung Electronics Co. is experiencing a shortage of its Galaxy S24 smartphones in Pakistan due to overwhelming demand for the flagship device, according to Bloomberg.
Since the device’s launch earlier this year, demand has surged, leading to limited availability across the country.
The Galaxy S24 series, which is assembled in Pakistan, has garnered considerable interest, particularly for its premium models like the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
This surge in demand suggests a growing market for high-end smartphones among Pakistan’s more affluent consumers.
With 192 million mobile phone users, Pakistan is the world’s fifth-most populous nation, representing a significant market for smartphone manufacturers.
Samsung Electronics acknowledged the shortage in an email statement, stating that the company is working to meet customer demand and expects sales to resume shortly.
The Pakistani government has introduced financial incentives that have transformed the country’s smartphone industry.
In 2017, Pakistan primarily imported smartphones, but the majority of handsets are now assembled domestically. This shift has contributed to a growing mobile phone manufacturing sector.
According to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, mobile companies in Pakistan produced about 21 million units last year, with local and Chinese brands such as VGOTEL, Infinix, and Itel leading production. An additional 1.7 million units were imported.
Despite the shortage, the Galaxy S24 models are crucial for Samsung’s position in the global smartphone market.
The company lost its top ranking to Apple Inc. last year, marking the first time since 2010 that Samsung was not the world’s leading smartphone maker, according to industry tracker IDC.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported a significant decline in its foreign exchange reserves for the week ending April 19, 2024, attributing the drop to external debt repayments.
The central bank’s reserves fell by $73.5 million, a 0.91 per cent week-on-week reduction, bringing the total to $7.98 billion.
This decrease reflects Pakistan’s ongoing struggles to maintain a stable foreign exchange reserve position amid mounting economic pressures.
The SBP issued a statement explaining the decline, citing debt repayments as the primary reason for the dip. “During the week ended on April 19, 2024, SBP’s reserves decreased by $74 million to $7.98 billion due to external debt repayments,” the statement read.
Concurrently, the total reserves of Pakistan, which include those held by commercial banks, also fell. The country’s total reserves dropped by $93.2 million, a 0.7 per cent week-on-week decrease, to $13.28 billion.
Commercial banks’ reserves diminished by $19.7 million, or 0.37 per cent week-on-week, bringing their total to $5.3 billion.
Last week, the SBP reported a slight increase in its reserves, up by $14.4 million despite a $1 billion Eurobond repayment. However, this week’s decline indicates continued pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
In a recent development, the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) executive board is set to meet on April 29 to discuss the approval of a $1.1 billion funding tranche for Pakistan.
This funding represents the second and final installment of a $3 billion standby arrangement with the IMF, which was agreed upon last summer to avert a sovereign default.
The current arrangement with the IMF is due to expire at the end of this month, prompting Pakistan to seek a new long-term and larger loan from the IMF.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb expressed optimism about the country’s foreign exchange reserves, stating that he expects the reserves held by the SBP to rise to around $9–10 billion by the end of the current fiscal year.
Despite the recent decline, the total liquid foreign reserves have increased by $4.12 billion, or 44.98 per cent, since the beginning of the fiscal year.
Additionally, the current calendar year has seen an increase of $0.61 billion, or 4.79 per cent.
The fluctuations in Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves underscore the country’s ongoing economic challenges and the critical importance of securing international funding to maintain financial stability.
The ALFILM festival in Berlin is standing strong in its promise to highlight Palestinian stories, even when faced with tough opposition. Despite the difficulties and tensions around discussing Palestine in Germany, the festival organizers are determined to give these important stories a platform.
Pascale Fakhry, the director of ALFILM, knows it’s harder now, but she’s still committed to the festival’s mission. She says, “It feels like an impossible task right now. It doesn’t even feel like an act of courage. It feels like a suicide somehow, honestly.”
But the festival keeps going, knowing how important it is as a big part of Arab culture in Germany. Fakhry says it’s crucial to keep talking and sharing stories, even when things seem tough.
Even though there have been some tough moments, like questions from authorities about the festival’s venues, the organizers stay strong in their goal of creating a diverse and welcoming cultural space.
In a time when antisemitism is growing and tensions are high, the festival is a symbol of strength and unity. Filmmakers from around the world are encouraged to speak out, even on sensitive topics.
This year, the festival is focusing on Palestinian cinema with a special section called “Here is Elsewhere: Palestine in Arab Cinema and Beyond.” One documentary, ‘Bye Bye Tiberias’ by Lina Soualem, tells stories of Palestinian women and their strength through generations, showing how history still affects them today.
Stories like Soualem’s are important because they challenge stereotypes and make sure Palestinian voices are heard. Even when it’s hard, the ALFILM festival keeps fighting to share these stories and promote understanding through art and cinema.
Renowned actress Bushra Ansari recently shared a heartfelt revelation in her latest vlog, announcing her marriage to Iqbal Hussain. Despite being married for a few years, Ansari had kept her marriage private to avoid societal judgment. However, she felt it was time to introduce her husband to her fans.
In her vlog, Ansari discussed the importance of transcending age differences, praising her husband’s maturity. She emphasized that a strong marriage requires mutual understanding and the ability to overcome past challenges, which both she and Iqbal have faced in their previous relationships.
Ansari also spoke warmly about her relationship with her husband’s sons, who are now studying in Canada. She shared the close bond they have developed with her own daughter, who resides in the same neighborhood. Ansari highlighted how their shared experiences, including having a grandson around the same age, have strengthened their family ties.
Furthermore, Ansari candidly addressed the sensitive topic of divorce, acknowledging that sometimes relationships simply do not work out despite efforts to make them succeed. She emphasized the emotional toll of divorce, stressing that “no one enters marriage with the intention of ending it.”
A 17-year-old young man was allegedly killed by his close friend for eating a zinger burger the suspect had ordered for his ‘girlfriend’, the police investigation has concluded in Karachi.
The victim was identified as Ali Kerio, son of Javed Kerio, a Karachi District South sessions judge, while the suspect shooter, Daniyal Nazeer Mir Bahar, is the son of Nazir Ahmed Mir Bahar, a retired Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), reports Danial Syed of Geo News.
As per initial investigations, Daniyal invited his girlfriend, Shazia, to his house — located in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase V — where his friend Ali Kerio and his brother Ahmar Kerio were also present. The suspect ordered two zinger burgers for himself and Shazia, but Ali purportedly consumed half of one burger, which enraged Daniyal so much that he seized his security guard’s assault rifle and opened fire on Ali, who later succumbed to gunshot injuries on the way to the hospital.
The unfortunate incident happened on Feburary 8.
The investigating officer (IO) has submitted the report to higher authorities, implicating the police officer’s son in the crime. Daniyal is currently in jail as the legal proceedings of the case continue.
Bollywood actor Bollywood thespian Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s daughter has enrolled in an acting school. Despite not having a film background himself, Nawazuddin made a name for himself in the industry as one of its most talented actors. Now, he wants his daughter, Shora Siddiqui, to join the film world too.
In an interview, he said he wished for her to follow his footsteps. Nawazuddin and his wife have resolved their differences for the sake of their children. “I want for Shora to achieve her dreams. At 13-years-old, she’s ready to excel in the performing arts.”
He added, “I’ve enrolled her in an acting school. If she chooses to pursue acting as a profession, I want her to be a skilled actress.” Nawazuddin also said that acting is an art, and he will always support her in every possible way.
