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  • Pakistani Ambassador at UN lauded for Palestine resolution speech

    Pakistani Ambassador at UN lauded for Palestine resolution speech

    Pakistani Ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram, delivered a strong statement on the war that is taking place in Gaza during the 10th Emergency Special Session on December 12.

    https://youtu.be/Rv8CfifXcOo?si=GOBY3v-Vbsp6BVxE


    He expressed Pakistan’s allegiance to the resolution submitted by the Arab and Islamic countries proposing an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and release of all hostages. Ambassador Munir also criticised America, one of the permanent members, for vetoing that resolution. Calling out the friend of Israel, for proposing an amendment that “condemns one side while exonerating the other”. He called it “unfair and inequitable”.


    The Pakistani ambassador reminded the world that Israel has dropped 25,000 tons of explosives on Gaza which is nearly equivalent to the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He stressed that “Israel’s goal is not to erase Hamas, this is a war against the Palestinian people, not just to erase people but to erase the entire idea of Palestine. It is the same as racial slaughter conducted by settler colonial power in the past.”


    Munir Akram ended the speech by calling out the UN that its duty should not be “to justify the genocide that is taking place.”


    Riyad Mansour, Palestinian Ambassador to the UN, especially thanked the Pakistani Ambassador for his stance and the effective speech by calling him a lawyer of the Palestinian cause in the tenth emergency session. He said that Ambassador Munir Akram shredded to pieces the amendments proposed in favour of perpetrators. He praised the Pakistani Ambassador stating that due to his efforts “even one of the opposing countries voted in favour of the resolution today”.


    Member states then adopted a resolution demanding an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire”, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and well as “ensuring humanitarian access”.


    It passed with a large majority of 153 in favour and 10 against, with 23 abstentions.

  • Aleema Khan fears Imran Khan may get death penalty in cipher case

    Aleema Khan fears Imran Khan may get death penalty in cipher case

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ex-chairman Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, has expressed concern that her brother might get the death penalty in the cipher case, as per a report of The News on Thursday.

    Speaking to journalists outside Adiala jail, Aleema Khan said that she has doubts on the former prime minister’s trial as she can’t see justice being served.

    A day earlier, a special court established under the official secret act indicted Imran Khan and PTI’s vice president Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a cypher case.

    While discussing her brother’s trial, Aleema mentioned that cubicles had been made, and she couldn’t understand the reason for that.

    “Our entire family was in the courtroom, and it was locked from outside,” she said, adding that they were chased and threatened when they were coming for hearing.

    “We have no fear, but there can be no fair trial without the media,” she said, adding that journalists were not being allowed to attend the trial.

    “It seems that we are not in our country but in some other country. It is very sad to see what is happening to us in our own country,” she added.

  • Woman finds ring worth more than 22 crore in an unusual place

    Woman finds ring worth more than 22 crore in an unusual place

    A woman lost a diamond ring worth more than $800,000 or Rs 22 crore, 45 lac, 34 thousand and 480 rupees at the Ritz Hotel in Paris, kicking off a large search campaign by hotel and security staff.

    The ring was eventually found in a vacuum cleaner bag.

    The woman was staying at the famed Ritz Hotel when she left her ring on the nightstand in her room.
    When she returned from a morning outing, the ring was gone. Authorities were alerted, but after a search by hotel and security staff, the ring was found in a vacuum cleaner bag.


    The woman is originally from Malaysia and is currently in London where she will receive her ring soon.

  • History made in PSL; Three brothers in same team

    History made in PSL; Three brothers in same team

    History has been made in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine, with three brothers, all fast bowlers, joining the same team. After signing up pacer Naseem Shah, Islamabad United has also made his younger brothers Hunain and Ubaid Shah a part of their team.

    The player’s draft ceremony of PSL nine was held in Lahore in which the formation of teams for the ninth edition of Pakistan Super League 2024 was completed.

    Franchise owners, Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Zaka Ashraf, and cricketers participated in the event.

    Naseem Shah’s younger brother Hunain Shah made a splash in the National T20 Cup while Ubaid Shah is part of the Pakistan Under-19 team that is currently playing in the Asia Cup in Dubai.

    Islamabad United named Hunain and Ubaid Shah in their emerging category squad for PSL nine. Naseem Shah left Quetta Gladiators and became a part of Islamabad United even before the draft.

    This is the first time that three brothers have been included in a team together and all three are fast bowlers.

  • Perth Test: Australia won the toss and decided to bat first against Pakistan

    Perth Test: Australia won the toss and decided to bat first against Pakistan

    In the first Test match between Pakistan and Australia in Perth, the host team won the toss and decided to bat first. Australia has scored 117 runs without loss in 25 overs before the lunch brake.

    Speaking on the occasion of the toss, the captain of the national Test team, Shan Masood said, “If I had won the toss, I would have batted first, two players are making their debut in our team in the first match against Australia”.

    Earlier, Aamir Jamal and Khurram Shehzad were given Test caps, and Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali gave Test caps to the players.

    Babar Azam was given a cap and a commemorative shield by the captain for playing his 50th Test.

    Pakistan’s squad:

    The national team decided to enter the field with four fast bowlers. The Pakistan team included captain Shan Masood, Imam ul Haque, Abdullah Shafiq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Aamir Jamal, and Khurram Shahzad.

    Australia’s squad:

    The Australian team consists of David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, captain Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyo,n and Josh Hazlewood.

    It should be noted that this series of three Test matches is being played for the Benaud–Qadir Trophy.

  • Pakistan plans to secure $4.5 billion from diverse sources in current fiscal year

    Pakistan plans to secure $4.5 billion from diverse sources in current fiscal year

    Caretaker Minister for Finance, Dr Shamshad Akhtar, has outlined Pakistan’s financial projections for the current fiscal year (2023–24), highlighting an anticipated mobilisation of approximately $4.5 billion from both multilateral and bilateral sources, excluding the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    Minister Akhtar disclosed that the government foresees receiving over $1.6 billion in the second quarter (Q2) from sources such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

    She clarified that these inflows encompass funds allocated to both project-based and programme-based initiatives.

    Highlighting progress in negotiations, the minister revealed the completion of discussions for certain programme loans, with impending disbursements expected.

    She reassured that Pakistan remains committed to meeting its debt obligations promptly, both currently and in the future.

    Regarding the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, Minister Akhtar reported the successful conclusion of the first review of the Standby Agreement, resulting in the attainment of a Staff Level Agreement (SLA).

    Pending approval by the IMF’s Executive Board, this agreement will grant Pakistan access to $700 million.

    Commenting on the prevailing economic situation, Minister Akhtar acknowledged the challenges faced domestically and globally during FY2023.

    Despite these hurdles, she asserted that fiscal and external sector stability have been achieved through the implementation of various stabilisation measures and structural reforms.

  • Pakistan repays $5.4 billion of $24.6 billion external debt

    Pakistan repays $5.4 billion of $24.6 billion external debt

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) governor revealed that Pakistan’s external debt obligations for Fiscal Year 2024 are $24.6 billion, as stated during the post-Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on Tuesday.

    Breaking down the figures, the principal amount is $20.7 billion, with an additional $3.9 billion accounting for interest.

    Notably, a total of $5.4 billion has already been repaid, encompassing a $4 billion principal payment and a $1.4 billion interest payment.

    As a result, the outstanding debt now stands at $19.2 billion, with plans to rollover $12.4 billion (with $9.3 billion already confirmed), according to the governor.

    This leaves a net remaining amount of $6.8 billion for the remaining seven months of the fiscal year. This comprises a $4.3 billion principal and a $2.5 billion interest payment.

    It’s crucial to note that the current foreign exchange reserves are relatively limited, standing at approximately $7 billion.

  • Pakistan’s credit rating maintained by Fitch at ‘CCC’ amidst financing challenges

    Pakistan’s credit rating maintained by Fitch at ‘CCC’ amidst financing challenges

    Fitch Ratings, a US-based credit rating agency, has maintained Pakistan’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘CCC,’ according to a statement released on Wednesday.

    The ‘CCC’ rating indicates significant external funding risks due to elevated medium-term financing requirements, notwithstanding some stabilisation and Pakistan’s commendable performance on its current standby arrangement (SBA) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as explained by Fitch.

    While anticipating scheduled elections in February and prompt negotiation for a subsequent IMF programme after the SBA concludes in March 2024, Fitch cautioned about potential delays and uncertainties regarding Pakistan’s ability to achieve this.

    Fitch emphasised the potential vulnerability of recent reforms and the prospect of renewed political volatility in the wake of the upcoming elections. Regarding the ongoing IMF programme, Fitch expressed confidence in the unproblematic approval of the recent staff-level agreement (SLA) by the IMF board.

    Fitch’s assessment highlighted the positive outcomes of the programme review, including sustained fiscal consolidation, energy price reforms despite public backlash, and strides towards adopting a more market-driven exchange rate regime.

    However, Fitch also pointed out risks associated with policy implementation, citing a historical pattern of parties across the political spectrum in Pakistan failing to implement or reversing reforms agreed upon with the IMF.

  • BTS’ Jungkook dominates Billboard Music Awards 2023

    BTS’ Jungkook dominates Billboard Music Awards 2023

    Jungkook from BTS just achieved a HUGE milestone in the music world! His new solo song, ‘Standing Next To You’ is now at the top of the Billboard Digital Song Sales chart in the United States.

    Jungkook has been making waves as a solo artist since 2023, proving himself to be a major player in the industry. His debut album, “GOLDEN,” dropped on November 3, and the lead track from that album snagged the number one spot on the Billboard chart. It’s a big deal because last week, Taylor Swift was holding the top position with her song “You’re Losing Me.”

    Jungkook’s solo success is making headlines as he surpasses well-known artists and establishes himself as a major force in the music industry.

  • Zahara: South African Music Star Passes Away at 36

    Zahara: South African Music Star Passes Away at 36

    South African singer Zahara, who rose from an impoverished rural background to find rapid fame with multi-platinum selling albums and delivered her unique version of wistful Afro-soul in her country’s isiXhosa language and in English, has died, her family said Tuesday. She was 36.

    Zahara, whose real name was Bulelwa Mkutukana, died Monday, her family said in a statement posted on her official page on X, formerly Twitter. It gave no cause of death. The family said last month that Zahara had been admitted to a hospital with an undisclosed issue and had asked for privacy.

    “She was a pure light, and an even purer heart, in this world,” her family said in Tuesday’s statement.

    Zahara’s debut 2011 album “Loliwe” — meaning “The Train” — was certified double platinum and became South Africa’s second-fastest selling album after the 1997 record “Memeza” by Brenda Fassie, an icon of South African music.

    Just 23 when “Loliwe” was released, Zahara was a sensation and immediately compared with Fassie, who also died young at 39.

    Zahara won 17 South African music awards, was also recognized in Nigeria and was included on a list of the 100 most influential women in the world in 2020 by the BBC. She released four more albums — one of them triple platinum and one platinum.

    Zahara’s death prompted reaction from across South Africa, including all major political parties and South Africa’s Parliament, which said in a statement “it was difficult to accept the news of Zahara’s passing” at such a young age.

    Zahara became known as South Africa’s “Country Girl,” a testament to her upbringing in the rural Eastern Cape province, but also how her award-winning music came with a highly-effective simplicity; through her voice and an acoustic guitar. Her songs were marked with references to her Christian religion but also to South Africa’s painful history of apartheid, even if she was only a young child when it ended.

    In the single “Loliwe” — from the same album — “Loliwe” was the train that carried fathers, brothers and sons to the big city of Johannesburg to find work during the time of racial segregation. Many didn’t return and their families were left to wonder what had happened to them. The song was about “lingering hope,” Zahara said in 2012. But the lyrics also included the phrase “wipe your tears,” which she said urged those left behind to “pick yourself up and look forward.”

    It resonated with a new generation of post-apartheid South Africans.

    “She inspired us with Loliwe,” South African Music Awards spokesperson and former music journalist Lesley Mofokeng told TV channel Newzroom Afrika. “You could not ignore Loliwe. Her voice could reach the heavens.”

    In an interview published by her record label after Loliwe’s release, Zahara said she began playing guitar on her own and wrote the songs for her first album without knowing what the chords were called.

    “All along I was just using my ears,” she said.