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  • Israeli general in Gaza criticises political leaders

    Israeli general in Gaza criticises political leaders

    An Israeli general leading troops in Gaza has delivered rare public criticism of the country’s political leadership, demanding it “be worthy” of the soldiers fighting against Hamas in the Palestinian territory.

    Brigadier General Dan Goldfus, head of the 98th division deployed in Gaza’s main southern city of Khan Yunis, also appeared to enter into a row over exempting ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service.

    He was subsequently summoned by the military leadership for his comments, which breached a long-standing taboo on uniformed officers publicly wading into politics.

    “You must be worthy of us,” Goldfus said of his country’s leaders, in comments broadcast on Israeli television on Wednesday.

    He called for Israeli politicians “to push aside the extreme, and adopt togetherness” in the Gaza following October 7 attacks.

    The general vowed that military commanders and soldiers would take responsibility for their actions.

    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far stopped short of assuming personal responsibility for Israel’s intelligence failures on October 7 and said any official investigations must take place after the war.

    “We will not run from responsibility. We bow our heads in light of our reverberating failure on October 7, but at the same time are leading forward,” the general said.

    Since Israel launched a ground offensive in Gaza on October 27, 249 soldiers have been killed in the Palestinian territory, according to the military.

    Addressing Israel’s political leaders, Goldfus called on them to ensure that “everyone takes part” in enlisting in the armed forces, in an apparent reference to ultra-Orthodox Israeli men being exempt from national service — a contentious political issue.

    Most Jewish men are required by law to serve in the Israeli military, but members of the ultra-Orthodox minority — known in Hebrew as Haredim — have long been given sweeping exemptions.

    Since the October 7 attack, public frustration over the exemption has resurfaced, adding pressure on Netanyahu’s governing coalition, which relies on ultra-Orthodox allies staunchly opposed to drafting Haredi men.

    Neither Netanyahu nor Defence Minister Yoav Gallant publicly responded to Goldfus’s remarks.

    Some lawmakers voiced their approval while others expressed dissatisfaction with the general making political statements of any kind.

    Yoav Segalovitz, a centrist opposition lawmaker, told Kan public radio on Thursday that “a uniformed officer needs to talk only about what’s related to his decisions or take off the uniform”.

    Writing in the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, columnist Nahum Barnea said that “with all respect to the heartfelt sentiments of the esteemed officer, fighting in Gaza doesn’t give him the right or the authority to express a position on political matters”.

    Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed at least 31,341 Palestinians since October 7, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry.

  • SBP sees surge of over $17 million in forex reserves

    SBP sees surge of over $17 million in forex reserves

    The latest data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) revealed a notable rise in the country’s foreign exchange reserves. During the week ending March 8, 2024, SBP’s reserves increased by $17.2 million, marking a 0.22 per cent growth, reaching a total of $7.91 billion.

    Additionally, Pakistan’s overall reserves experienced a surge, ascending by $131.3 million, or 1.01 per cent, week-on-week (WoW), to a sum of $13.15 billion. This increase was further complemented by a rise in reserves held by commercial banks, which climbed by $114.1 million, or 2.23 per cent, to reach $5.24 billion.

    In a significant development, the second review of the stand-by arrangement (SBA) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is slated to take place from March 14 to 18, 2024. This review holds particular importance as it marks the final assessment under the SBA. Upon reaching a staff-level agreement, the final tranche of $1.1 billion will be disbursed, subject to approval by the Executive Board of the IMF.

    It is noteworthy that in the current fiscal year, Pakistan has witnessed a substantial increase in its total liquid foreign reserves, amounting to $3.99 billion, or 43.57 per cent. Similarly, the ongoing calendar year has seen a rise of $0.48 billion, or 3.77 per cent.

  • Olivia Munn got all clear mammogram before being diagnosed with breast cancer two months later

    Olivia Munn got all clear mammogram before being diagnosed with breast cancer two months later

    Actor Olivia Munn revealed Wednesday that she had undergone a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer. The X-Men: Apocalypse and The Newsroom performer took to Instagram to tell followers her news, just days after she attended the Oscars ceremony with her partner, comedian John Mulaney.

    The 43-year-old said the cancer had been discovered almost a year ago after her doctor noted she was at elevated risk for the disease and suggested she undergo an additional scan, 12 months before a routine screening.

    “I wouldn’t have found my cancer for another year -– at my next scheduled mammogram,” she told followers. After initial tests, a biopsy was ordered. “The biopsy showed I had Luminal B cancer in both breasts. Luminal B is an aggressive, fast-moving cancer,” she wrote, adding that the double mastectomy was performed 30 days later.

    “I went from feeling completely fine one day to waking up in a hospital bed after a 10-hour surgery the next,” she wrote in a post, with photos taken apparently during her treatment. “I’m lucky. We caught it with enough time that I had options. I want the same for any woman who might have to face this one day.”

    Munn walked the red carpet at Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood, where Mulaney presented an Oscar, and later attended the celebrity-filled Vanity Fair after-party. 

    Munn’s small screen credits include The Daily Show with Jon Stewart as well as a role in Aaron Sorkin’s HBO drama The Newsroom. Her movie credits have included Magic Mike, The Predator and Office Christmas Party.

  • Toyota Yaris prices reduced by up to Rs133,000

    Toyota Yaris prices reduced by up to Rs133,000

    Indus Motor Company, the manufacturer of Toyota vehicles in Pakistan, has announced a significant price adjustment for its Yaris sedan range.

    This adjustment, effective from Thursday, reflects a reduction in prices ranging from Rs73,000 to Rs133,000.

    The revised pricing structure for the Yaris lineup is as follows: the 1.3 MT LO, 1.3 CVT LO, and 1.3 MT Hi variants will now be priced at Rs4.326 million, Rs4.616 million, and Rs4.586 million, respectively, representing a reduction of Rs73,000 for each model.

    Additionally, the price of the Yaris CVT Hi has been lowered by Rs133,000 and is now priced at Rs4.766 million.

    According to Business Recorder, this decision comes in response to the recent imposition of a 25 per cent sales tax on vehicles priced above Rs4 million.

    By implementing these price cuts, Indus Motor Company aims to ensure that the Yaris remains within the 18 per cent sales tax bracket.

    Initially, the government’s decision to raise the sales tax was targeted at vehicles with engine sizes of 1,400 cc and above, as well as those priced above Rs4 million.

    However, it later extended to include SUVs below the 1,400cc threshold, prompting manufacturers to advocate for a Rs4 million price cap.

    As a consequence of this tax adjustment, certain models from Toyota, Honda, and Suzuki are now subject to the increased sales tax regime.

  • Streaming giant Spotify adds music videos to output

    Streaming giant Spotify adds music videos to output

    Stockholm (AFP) – Music streaming giant Spotify on Wednesday announced it would be posting music videos on its platform in “select markets”, entering an arena long dominated by YouTube.

    “The beta version of music videos on Spotify begins rolling out today…,” the company said in a statement.

    It would release limited catalogue of hits from global artists such as Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, and Ice Spice, as well as local favourites, it added.

    Initially, the music videos will only be available to paying subscribers in the UK, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Brazil, Colombia,the Philippines, Indonesia, and Kenya.

    In early February, Spotify announced it had passed 600 million monthly users, of which 236 million were paying subscribers.

    Google’s streaming behemoth YouTube has long dominated music videos online, with much of the platform’s most-viewed content being music videos.

    Songs like Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito,” Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” and K-pop star Psy’s viral hit “Gangnam Style” each gathered several billion views.

    Spotify has invested heavily since its launch to fuel growth with expansions into new markets and, most recently, exclusive content such as podcasts.

  • Gold price in Pakistan increases by Rs250 to Rs228,550 per tola

    Gold price in Pakistan increases by Rs250 to Rs228,550 per tola

    The local bullion market exhibited stability on Thursday, with 24-karat gold fetching Rs228,550 per tola, marking an increase of Rs250 compared to the previous session.

    This pricing trend persists near its historical highs, fueled by anticipations of US interest rate adjustments, heightened Chinese purchasing activity, and ongoing geopolitical tensions.

    According to the Karachi Sarafa Association, the cost of 10-gramme 24-karat gold rose to Rs195,945 per tola, reflecting a gain of Rs215.

     Similarly, the price of 10-gramme 22-karat gold experienced a marginal uptick, reaching Rs179,616.

    Contrarily, silver rates remained unchanged today, with 24-karat silver trading at Rs2,600 per tola and Rs2,229.08 per 10-gramme.

    Internationally, spot gold hovered around $2,169 per ounce, following a $16.8 or 0.78% increase yesterday.

    JPMorgan Chase & Co. identifies gold as the top preference in commodities markets, projecting a potential price surge to $2,500 per ounce this year.

  • Minor improvement in human development ranking for Pakistan: Report

    Minor improvement in human development ranking for Pakistan: Report

    Pakistan has been ranked 161st out of 191 countries on the UN Human Development Index, scoring 0.544 points. This marks a slight improvement from 2023, when Pakistan was ranked 164th with 0.540 points, three places below its 2022 ranking.

    The report also highlights that Pakistan’s HDI rank remained steady at 161st globally from 2019 to 2021. The index comprises health, education, and income indicators, each ranging from 0 to 1.

    In South Asia, Sri Lanka leads at 73rd place with 0.782 points, followed by Bangladesh at 129th with 0.661 points, and India at 132nd with 0.633 points. Nepal ranks 143rd, while Afghanistan trails at 180th with 0.478 points, although it’s slightly above the bottom 10.

    Globally, South Sudan ranks last at 191st with 0.385 points, while Switzerland tops the list at 0.962 points, followed by Norway at 0.961 points.

    The report observes that while global development has returned to pre-pandemic levels, a growing gap between rich and poor countries persists. This rebound follows two years of decline, primarily due to the COVID-19 crisis which reversed five years of progress.

    Despite overall positive trends, inequality persists, with the poorest nations falling behind, exacerbating global polarisation.

    “The result is a dangerous gridlock that must be urgently tackled through collective action,” the United Nations warned in a post on social media.

    The report also recognizes that “rich countries experienced unprecedented development, yet half of the world’s poorest nations continue to languish.”

    The United Nations’ Human Development Index (HDI) combines economic and non-economic factors to measure a country’s prosperity, including life expectancy, educational attainment, and gross national income per capita.

    The report underscores a reversal in the trend of reducing inequalities between wealthy and poor nations, emphasising the need for collective action to address shared challenges and ensure people’s aspirations are met.

    Additionally, the report identifies a “democracy paradox,” wherein support for democracy coexists with endorsement of leaders who may sabotage democratic principles, increasing political polarisation and inward-looking policy approaches.

  • Zaviyar Nauman’s emotional reaction to ‘Sang e Mah’ slap

    Zaviyar Nauman’s emotional reaction to ‘Sang e Mah’ slap

    In a recent interview, Zaviyar Nauman shared an interesting detail about the drama “Sang e Mah.” He revealed that his dad, actor Nauman Ijaz, used a unique method to make scenes feel real.
    Zaviyar explained, “My father actually hit me during three action scenes in ‘Sang e Mah’ to make them more lifelike.” Despite the unusual approach, Zaviyar admitted that the actions helped create authentic performances that connected with viewers.
    Looking back on the experience, Zaviyar shared, “He hit me so hard that I started crying, and those tears were real in the scene.” Despite the challenges, Zaviyar’s natural acting earned him praise.

  • Nita Ambani wears jewellery owned by Emperor Shah Jahan

    Nita Ambani wears jewellery owned by Emperor Shah Jahan

    Nita Mukesh Ambani, wife of the richest man in Asia, caught everyone’s attention at the recent Miss World ceremony in Mumbai. She wore a special piece of jewelry once owned by a Mughal emperor, along with a black and gold sari.


    The necklace she wore is valued at 500 crores and was previously showcased at her son Anant’s pre-wedding celebrations. This time, Mrs. Ambani paired it with a stunning black blouse and zari sari designed by Swadesh and Manish Malhotra.


    The piece she wore on her arm, called a bazuband, is worth over two billion INR. It’s a historic Kalgi from the Mughal era, made of gold and adorned with diamonds, rubies, and spinels. This exquisite jewelry was last seen at the Al Thani Collection and was auctioned off in 2019.


    The Miss World pageant made its return to India after 28 years and was hosted at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, owned by the Ambanis. Krystyna Pyszkova from the Czech Republic was crowned the 71st Miss World.


    Mrs. Nita Ambani was honored with the ‘Beauty With a Purpose Humanitarian Award’ for her dedication to philanthropy and social work.

  • Saudi football club Al-Hilal gets world record consecutive victories

    Saudi football club Al-Hilal gets world record consecutive victories

    Saudi Arabia’s famous football club Al Hilal has made a world record by achieving 28 consecutive victories, entering the Guinness Book of World Records.

    According to foreign media, Al-Hilal defeated Ittihad Club by 2-0 in the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League. This was its 28th consecutive victory. The previous world record for most wins was held by Welsh team The New Swansea Club in the 2016–17 season with 27 wins in a row.

    The Guinness Book of World Records has also recognized the record.

    Al-Hilal Club has reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. The Club has won nine Champions League matches and leads the Saudi Pro League with 12 points.