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  • Pakistan Stock Exchange crosses 47,000-mark after five weeks

    Pakistan Stock Exchange crosses 47,000-mark after five weeks

    The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) enjoyed a favourable trading session on Wednesday, with its key KSE-100 Index surging above the 47,000 level for the first time in five weeks. This uptrend was primarily driven by the robust performance of the banking sector.

    Throughout the trading session, the KSE-100 Index remained firmly in positive territory, ultimately settling at 47,079.83. This represented a notable gain of 323.03 points, or 0.69 per cent. The last instance the benchmark index closed above the 47,000 mark was on August 28.

    In a post-market report, Ismail Securities, a prominent brokerage house, attributed the positive momentum in the equity market to increased liquidity, particularly within the banking sector.

    On the preceding day, Tuesday, the KSE-100 Index managed to eke out a 0.28 per cent gain in a session characterised by a relatively narrow trading range.

    Shares of 342 companies were traded, with 172 witnessing an increase, 134 recording a decline, and 36 remaining unchanged.

    Topline Securities, another respected brokerage house, envisions the KSE-100 Index approaching the 50,000 level in a potential “pre-election rally.” They expressed their belief that the Pakistani market could experience an 8–10 per cent surge in the lead-up to the elections, assuming a smooth election process and the approval of the IMF tranche in November, stating this in an earlier note.

    Simultaneously, the Pakistani rupee continued its strengthening trend against the US dollar, registering a 0.37 per cent gain in the interbank market on Wednesday. According to the State Bank of Pakistan, the rupee settled at 284.68 after an increase of Rs1.04, marking the 20th consecutive appreciation against the greenback.

    Trading activity also saw an uptick, with the all-share index volume rising to 330.2 million shares from Tuesday’s 213.2 million. The value of traded shares also increased, reaching Rs7.3 billion compared to Rs6.1 billion in the previous session.

  • Mahira’s childhood friend recounts how she got the couple together

    Mahira’s childhood friend recounts how she got the couple together

    After superstar Mahira Khan shared pictures of her intimate wedding ceremony to Salim Karim, an influx of celebrities, including Bollywood stars like Sonam Kapoor, sent their blessings and happy wishes to the gorgeous couple. Fashion brand founder Feeha-Noor Jamshed also sent her blessings to the happy bride, sharing how she “manifested” their union.

    In a post shared on her Instagram stories, Feeha posted a short video of Mahira and Salim’s wedding, stating that she vouched for Salim’s character.

    “…to this beautiful couple who are in every way the best partners I have seen in the longest time. To the man I vouched for 8 years ago, to the woman I call my sister. Because… ‘I wanted the best for My best..’

    Somewhere in those years I had manifested this union ..to witness the magic of their love and especially their union can’t be described in words. I leave you to feel…

    to this incredible woman I called my sister and this beautiful man I love I now can proudly call my brother.

    May you look back 30-40 years down the line, old and wrinkly but young in love. May all the moments you weave in the coming years make your hearts smile and soul dance. Ameen.”

    In her next post, Feeha shared a picture of Mahira along with her son Azlan, lauding the actress for raising a good person:

    “..I’ve told her this before…the best role she’s ever played and will ever play is that of a mother. Azlan is an extension of her.. and my nephew is the fienst of men I have ever encountered..he stands so proud next to his mama welcoming one of the finest men I have seen in a while..to my Zanu (azlan), Mahira and Salim..may Allah’s winds take you to limitless skies & may his Noor guide you all the way.”

    Feeha has been a strong supporter of Mahira’s career over the years, with Instagram posts championing the most important moments like her film with Shah Rukh Khan ‘Raees’ for which she shared a screenshot of the two actors and wrote:

    “Dreaming is essential. You dream when you have the courage to face its manifestations. This is your gift from the universe @mahirahkhan because you dreamt and you Dream Big!
    I love you! What else can I say?”

    If there is anyone who knows who you truly are, it’s your friends who knew you since you were a child, the way Feeha knew Mahira. We’re so happy that Pakistan’s sweetheart had an incredible support system who knew what she needed in a man.

    Congratulations once more to the happy couple. We pray for them to create a safe future together.

  • Arif Alvi nay Imran Khan ka dil tor diya?

    Arif Alvi nay Imran Khan ka dil tor diya?

    Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former Prime Minister, has voiced his profound disappointment and discontentment with President Dr. Arif Alvi for not yet announcing the date for upcoming elections, his sister Aleema Khan has said while talking to the press after a court appearance in Lahore.

    Aleema Khan, who has been implicated in the May 9 riots case, appeared before an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Wednesday, where her’s and former Finance Minister Asad Umar’s interim bails were extended until October 16. The judge instructed their legal representatives to present final arguments in the Jinnah House attack case.

    Aleema Khan later told the media that Imran Khan was disappointed with President Alvi’s perceived failure to fulfill his constitutional obligation of announcing an election date, especially during a critical time for the nation.

    The issue of the election date has been a subject of contention in recent times. The PTI’s core committee issued a strong statement last month, reminding President Alvi of his constitutional responsibilities and urging him to promptly announce the election date. The committee asserted that failure to do so would amount to a violation of the Constitution and the basic democratic rights of the people.

    The core committee argued that announcing the election date would bring an end to political uncertainty and chaos that had gripped the country since the “regime change conspiracy” in April 2022.

    After the court hearing, Aleema Khan addressed the media and expressed concerns about her brother’s deteriorating health. She mentioned that Imran Khan had lost a significant amount of weight and highlighted the lack of opportunities for him to exercise or even take a walk. She also expressed apprehensions about potential efforts to prolong Imran Khan’s detention in the cipher case.

    It’s worth noting that the caretaker government has emphasized that only the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has the authority to make such an announcement. Initially, President Alvi had invited Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja in an attempt to get him to agree on a date. However, Raja declined the request, asserting that only the ECP possessed the authority to announce the date, citing amendments made in the ECP Act of 2017.

    Before the amendment to Section 57(1) of the act, Raja had explained that the president was required to consult the ECP before appointing an election date. However, after the amendment, the commission was empowered to announce the date or dates for the general election, he noted.

  • Vaccine to prevent recurrence of breast cancer produces good results in trial

    Vaccine to prevent recurrence of breast cancer produces good results in trial

    A vaccine developed for an aggressive form of breast cancer is currently being tested in human clinical trials.

    If the trials are successful, the vaccine would be groundbreaking, preventing recurrence of triple-negative breast cancer, which makes up about 10% to 15% of all breast cancers and is particularly challenging to treat.

    According to an article published by John Hopkins, triple-negative breast cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer because it grows quickly and has a higher rate of recurrence — locally, in the breast area, or to other parts of the body, meaning metastasis. In fact, the risk of the cancer recurring within five years of being diagnosed is nearly three times higher in patients with triple-negative breast cancer than in those who don’t have that type of breast cancer.

    Yahoo! interviewed Jennifer Davis who is the first person to receive the vaccine as part of the clinical trial.

    Davis is a 46-year-old nurse and a mother of three living in Ohio, USA. She was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in 2018, undergoing a double mastectomy and several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation.

    During her follow-up appointment, she came to know about the breast cancer vaccine trial.

    The vaccine has been under development for 20 years based on research led by Vincent Tuohy, who died in January 2023, and its human trials started in October 2021.

    “My [health care] team informed me of the vaccine that Dr. Tuohy had been studying for a long time,” Davis said.

    “It’s just that kind of breast cancer — that particular type — there’s nothing I can take afterward, no tamoxifen [a hormone therapy], and recurrence is high. If it does come back, outcomes are not the greatest. So I wanted to take something — the vaccine was that for me.”

    And because Davis is a nurse she claims to understand the importance of clinical trials, adding, “That’s how we advance medicine and make changes and one day, get rid of breast cancer.”

    Chairman and chief executive officer of Anixa Biosciences, licensed to create the vaccine, Amit Kumar says that 42% of women with triple-negative breast cancer will get the cancer again within five years. “It’s typically much more aggressive, so the outcome for those women is not very good,” he tells Yahoo Life.

    The purpose of the breast cancer vaccine is to “eliminate the recurrence for those women and eventually, prevent the cancer from ever arising.”

  • Is Shahid Khaqan saying ‘Acha chalta hu’ to PMLN?

    Is Shahid Khaqan saying ‘Acha chalta hu’ to PMLN?

    Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head Nawaz Sharif in London, emphasizing that he has maintained a 35-year relationship with the party, and these ties go beyond political considerations.

    The two-hour-long meeting happened a few days after Abbasi announced that there was a need for a new political party in Pakistan, claiming that the existing parties, including PMLN, PTI, and PPP, had failed.

    While talking to media after the meeting, Khaqan Abbasi dispelled rumors about forming a new political party, saying: “I only talked about forming the new party, but I did not make one.”

    He said: “There is a dire need to compensate for the injustices that happened with Nawaz Sharif. I have had an association with Nawaz Sharif since the last 35 years. I and Nawaz Sharif exchanged views on the country’s political situation.”

    When asked if he discussed Re-Imagining Pakistan or the new party with Nawaz, Shahid Abbasi said he discussed every matter with him and “gave my opinion”.

    “Nawaz Sharif is the senior-most politician of Pakistan today. He understands things like no one else. I believe he should take the whole nation forward with him and forget a lot of things that have happened in the past. We discussed everything that we needed to and we have done so always. There are things we agree on and something we disagree on,” he told The News.

    A senior PMLN source said Khaqan Abbasi had been breaking party discipline for many months, and it was clear he had moved on from the party. The source said that Abbasi had made it clear he wants to launch a new party or be part of it when it is formed. “It’s just a matter of time before this party is launched by Shahid Khaqan, Miftah Ismail and Mustafa Khokhar as a new force. The fate it will meet is another matter.”

    The former premier said Nawaz Sharif’s court-related matters – including Iqama disqualification – should have been settled before his departure to Pakistan. He said Nawaz Sharif was victimized by the courts and deserves justice.

  • Sridevi’s husband blames a habit for her untimely death

    Sridevi’s husband blames a habit for her untimely death

    The late celebrated icon Sri Devi left a hole in the Bollywood industry when she passed away in 2018, leaving behind an impressive film legacy. On the announcement of her death, many Bollywood actors, including Pakistani celebrities like Sajal Aly, mourned the loss of a giant. Five years later, her husband, producer Boney Kapoor, has opened up about her sudden death in an interview with ‘The New Indian’.

    The producer said it was Sri Devi’s constant habit of crash diets had caused her health problems to prolong, saying that the family physician had often scolded the late actress. “She often used to starve; she wanted to look good,” Kapoor stated.

    “She wanted to look good because when you are on screen, you look much broader and she wanted to make sure that she is chiselled and in good shape to maintain good looks on screen. It was not just for the film that she was doing then. She had come down to 46-47 kgs. You will notice it in the film ‘English Vinglish’.”

    Boney further elaborated that doctors consistently scolded the late actress after she had a number of blackouts because of her refusal to add salt to her diet.

    Salt can retain water and cutting it out from diet can make people look thinner.

    The producer said he urged his late wife to not follow a harsh diet because of her low BP.

    “Most women believe salt increases water retention, that’s why you feel puffy. That was one reason. I would also tell her not to completely avoid salt. I would also ask her to include a pinch of salt when having salad.”

    Boney recalled that South Indian star Nagarjuna came to visit him to offer condolences for Sri Devi’s demise, and revealed the actress’s crash diet took her to a point that she “fell in the bathroom and broke her teeth, and had those artificial caps.”

    Boney said he urged the actress to stop following such a strict diet plan, however, “unfortunately, she didn’t take this seriously and we also thought it can’t be this serious till the incident happened.”

    Sri Devi passed away in Dubai while she was getting ready to go on a dinner date with her husband. She suffered a cardiac arrest while in the bath tub and could not be revived. According to a news source, Boney had found her motionless in the hotel bathroom, in a bathtub full of water. When she didn’t wake up, he called the police at 9 pm.

    Speaking on the brutal interogation by the Dubai police, Boney Kapoor opened up about the disturbing allegations claiming he had killed her, and why he chose not to speak about the factors behind her death.

    “First of all, it was not a natural death, it was an accidental death. I decided not to speak about it because I had already spoken about it for over 24 to 48 hours when I was being interrogated and investigated. Dubai Police told me that we had to be through because there was pressure from Indian media. I said, well, I have nothing more to say than what I already have been saying.

    They also discovered that there was no foul play and I went through all the intense interrogation there where they put me through a lie detector and all those things. The post-mortem report said that it was an accidental death by drowning.”

  • Mahira Khan walks down the aisle with her son and he is so grown up

    Mahira Khan walks down the aisle with her son and he is so grown up

    Mahira Khan’s wedding has been the talk of the town since Monday, when two short snippets from the event were shared online by the actor’s manager Anoushay Talha and her brother Hissan Khan. The actress later shared a longer video and photos of her marriage to long-term partner Salim Karim.

    However, what is making Twitter users more emotional than the bride and groom is Mahira’s grown up son Azlan, shedding tears of happiness as he accompanied her down the aisle.

    For many users, seeing a woman getting married again and that too accompanied by her son, whom she raised as a single mother, was a heartening thing to witness.

    “ok but mahira and her son holding hands on her wedding day is making me feel a lot of good emotions. this is everything,” one user wrote.

    Users shared clips from Mahira’s wedding where Azlan could be seen sitting next to the actress during the Nikkah, and no we’re not crying either, it’s the onions.

    Some users shared a comparison picture of Mahira holding Azlan when he was a child, to the moment when he walked her down the aisle along with her brother. “Mahira’s son being all grown up, and walking her mom down the aisle, has to be one of the beautiful thing I saw today, such a precious moment omg”

    Many users pointed out how this moment was poignant to witness because a divorced woman, something our society deeply loathes, established a successful career and raised her son, and then got married to the person she loves with her son walking her down the aisle? We want more women in Pakistan to get such a similar happy ending.

    During an appearance at the ‘Fwhy podcast with Frieha Altaf’ Mahira shared how she married her childhood sweetheart Ali Askari, sharing how the two continued to remain close friends in order to raise their son Azlan, her main priority. She revealed the two had evolved into a modern family where respect for each other’s partners prevails.

  • Shadab Khan jokingly reveals reason for poor fielding

    Shadab Khan jokingly reveals reason for poor fielding

    After the warm-up match against Australia yesterday, Pakistan’s acting captain Shadab Khan was asked about Hyderabadi biryani. He jokingly said, “We are eating it every day, maybe that’s why we are a little slow on the field.”

    Shadab Khan, captain of the warm-up match, told Harsha Bhogle (Indian cricket commentator and journalist) that the team is enjoying their time in Hyderabad. Shadab also highlighted the positive aspects of both the warm-up games.

    “The result is not important, we learned a lot of positive things. When you play against Australia and New Zealand you get confidence, and we got a bit of experience with the conditions.”

    It should be noted that the Pakistan Cricket team is now in India to play the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Pakistan will play its first match against the Netherlands on Friday, October 6.

    Read More: Video about incompetence of Indian Cricket Board goes viral

  • Afghan Taliban slam crackdown against refugees as ‘unacceptable’

    Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has deemed Pakistan’s strategy to expel undocumented Afghan nationals as “unacceptable” and has urged authorities to revisit the policy.

    Only a day before Taliban’s response, on October 4, the caretaker government set November 1 as a deadline for the illegal immigrants residing in Pakistan, warning that action will be taken against them after the deadline. The decision was taken during an apex committee meeting on the National Action Plan (NAP) at the Prime Minister’s House. 

    “We have given them [foreigners residing in Pakistan unlawfully] a deadline of November 1 to willingly return to their countries and if they don’t, all law enforcement agencies (LEAs) of the state and provinces will deport them,” announced Interim Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Tuesday at a press conference.

    On Monday, the caretaker government led by Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar announced its intention to repatriate 1.1 million foreign nationals who are currently residing in Pakistan without legal authorisation. The government’s plan involves a multi-phase approach. 

    In the initial phase, those individuals who are residing in Pakistan unlawfully, colloquially referred to as “aliens”, will be subject to eviction, as will individuals who fail to renew their visas. Subsequent phases will target individuals with Afghan citizenship who possess proof of residence cards. 

    The decision to take action against illegally residing Afghan citizens was made due to concerns that this group is linked to activities such as funding, facilitating, and smuggling terrorists. Additionally, a significant number of Afghan nationals have not renewed their proof of residence in Pakistan, further raising security concerns.

    However, the United Nations (UN) said Tuesday that refugees residing in Pakistan should be allowed to exit the country voluntarily and no pressure should be exerted on them. 

    “Any refugee return must be voluntary and without any pressure to ensure protection for those seeking safety,” Qaisar Khan Afridi, a spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told Anadolu.

    People react

  • Why did A National TV reporter hurl abuse at PTI supporters?

    Why did A National TV reporter hurl abuse at PTI supporters?

    Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head Nawaz Sharif in London, emphasizing that he has maintained a 35-year relationship with the party, and these ties go beyond political considerations.

    After the two-hour-long meeting, Shahid Khaqan talked to the media outside Nawaz’s residence. During the conversation, PTI supporters started raising slogans against him.

    While a reporter from Samaa was trying to interview Abbasi, PTI supporters came near them in a car and started chanting, “Kaun Bachaye Ga Pakistan, Imran Khan, Imran Khan”. Abbasi responded with a simple “Khuda Hafiz”.

    This would’ve been fine, but then the Samaa reporter started shooing the PTI supporters off, eventually swearing at them.
    Watch the video to see what happened.