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  • Shehbaz, Maryam leave for London with important message for Nawaz Sharif

    Shehbaz, Maryam leave for London with important message for Nawaz Sharif

    Shehbaz Sharif, President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has left for London a day after returning to Lahore with a special message for his brother and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.

    According to sources in The News, the PML-N president will reach London on Thursday night. On the other hand, PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz will reach the British capital to meet her father on Thursday afternoon.

    “Shehbaz Sharif is coming back to London with an important message for Nawaz Sharif,” The News has reported.

    According to the report, Shehbaz, Maryam, and Nawaz Sharif will meet and discuss the return of PML-N supremo to Pakistan on October 21.

    “Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan remains final, there is no change in plan”, a trusted source told The News.

    “Nawaz Sharif will reach Pakistan on October 21,” Shehbaz said earlier.

    Confusion persists about the return of the former Prime Minister. Senior leader Javaid Latif has on Wednesday said on Wasim Badami’s show that there will not be a large reception on Nawaz Sharif’s return, as was being planned earlier, stressing that the party doesn’t want people to face difficulties due to traffic jams.

    Instead, he hinted, the party night hold a rally or a gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan after Sharif has returned home.

  • Baby girl born with 26 fingers and toes in India

    Baby girl born with 26 fingers and toes in India

    A baby girl, born in Rajasthan, India, has 26 fingers and toes- seven fingers on each hand and six on each foot. According to Indian Express, the family was shocked by the discovery, hailing her as an incarnation of a goddess. The baby’s mother, Sarju Devi went into labour eight months into her pregnancy, however, doctors have confirmed the child is healthy.

    The infant’s family have expressed their joy at the birth of the child. The girl’s uncle told local media: “My sister has given birth to a baby who has 26 fingers, and we are considering it to be the incarnation of Dholagarh Devi.”

    Speaking to Indian Express, Dr Preethika Shetty said the baby has a genetical condition called polydactyly, which is characterised by small extra digits. She explained that the condition varies, as some can be born with several extra digits, or they can have an extra finger. Dr Shoba Gupta, a medical director, revealed to the publication that the medical condition runs in the family and can be brought on by hereditary causes.

    Dr Shetty explained that polydactyly can be detected in new born babies through a prenatal ultrasound or after the child is born. “The doctor will determine if your baby has polydactyly either through prenatal ultrasound or after birth. He or she will examine your child’s hands and feet for any additional digits and diagnose the specific type of polydactyly.”

  • Massive data breach: 2.2 million Pakistani citizens’ personal information for sale online

    Massive data breach: 2.2 million Pakistani citizens’ personal information for sale online

    According to a report from Geo News, the personal data of 2.2 million Pakistani citizens has been compromised and put up for sale online. This breach occurred when hackers gained unauthorised access to a private company-made database that is utilised by hundreds of restaurants. 

    The hackers have even gone so far as to display some citizens’ data as samples in their online sale advertisement. In their claim, the hackers asserted, “We have hacked the databases of over 250 restaurants,” and they listed numerous food outlets. 

    The compromised citizen data includes contact numbers and credit card details. The affected software is widely used by many restaurants across the country. Furthermore, details such as the number of transactions and the amounts paid by citizens are available for purchase online. 

    The hackers are demanding 2 Bitcoins in exchange for the compromised citizen data, which equates to approximately $54,000, considering that one Bitcoin is valued at $27,000 based on market sources. In Pakistani rupees, this amounts to over Rs15 million. 

    As of now, the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FBR) cybercrime circle has not received any complaints regarding this incident. 

    It is worth noting that the federal government recently issued a directive advising all information technology (IT) and financial institutions, including regulators, to avoid collaborating with, installing, or using Indian-origin artificial intelligence (AI) and information and communication technology (ICT) products.  

    This advisory was issued due to concerns that these products could pose a constant, concealed, and force multiplier threat to Pakistan’s critical information infrastructure (CII). 

    The government shared this cybersecurity advisory with federal and provincial ministries and sectoral regulators. The advisory highlighted that globally, AI products and services are widely employed by various industries, including the financial and banking sectors, to accelerate their growth. 

    The document also noted that the fintech sector in Pakistan, along with some banks, was engaged with Indian-origin companies that offered IT products, cybersecurity solutions, and AI solutions.  

    The use of Indian security products and solutions was considered a potential threat to Pakistan’s CII, particularly the banking sector, due to the possibility of backdoors or malware collecting logs, data traffic analysis, and personal identifiable information (PII).  

    Additionally, it pointed out the risk of direct Indian ingress into Pakistan’s CII through technical means and access control with passive monitoring capability. 

  • Fungus found: UAE bans fresh meat imports from Pakistan

    Fungus found: UAE bans fresh meat imports from Pakistan

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has imposed a ban on the importation of fresh meat from Pakistan.

    This decision stems from the discovery of fungal contamination in frozen meat shipments from Pakistan via the sea route.

    As reported by ARY News, the presence of fungus on meat imported by a Karachi-based company prompted the UAE to enact this ban, which will be in effect until October 10.

    It’s worth noting that Pakistan typically exports fresh meat valued at $12 million monthly to the UAE through maritime channels.

    Pakistan primarily directs a significant portion of its meat exports towards the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.

  • Power outage alert: Residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to experience disruption today 

    Power outage alert: Residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to experience disruption today 

    Residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad are slated to experience a power outage today. The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) has announced a scheduled power suspension programme for various areas within its jurisdiction. This planned interruption is imperative to facilitate necessary maintenance and routine development work. 

    According to an IESCO spokesperson, the power supply to different feeders and grid stations will be temporarily suspended during specific time windows. From 08:00 AM to 01:00 PM, the affected areas include Islamabad Circle, Anguri, NCP, Mengyal, Shahdara, Shahpur, Khayaban Iqbal, Pir Suhawah, Quaid-e-Azam University, Punjab House, Bari Imam, Mandala, Athal, NIH, and Suhadran Road Feeders. 

    Additionally, from 07:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, the power supply will be interrupted in the following areas: Islamabad Circle, SES, Fazal Ghi, NDC-1, H-11/4, I-10/2, New Exchange, Kidney Centre, Dr AQ Khan, Islamic University, Bahria University, G-10/1, 2 & 4, G-9/1, CWO, Dhok Najo, Raja Sultan, Eid Gah, Khasala, I-8/4, Service Road, Muslim Town, and FHS Feeders. 

    This scheduled power outage will also affect areas within Rawalpindi Cantt Circle, including FECHS, Swan Garden-I, IST, New Rawat, Old Rawat, CWO, AOWHS, and Sparco Feeders. Furthermore, areas covered by Rawalpindi City Circle, Pindhon, I-14/3, Noon, I-16/1, HPT Radio Pak, Lakho Road, Ameer Hamza, Officer Colony, New Milpur, Jinnah Camp, KRL, Zeeshan Colony, and Lakho Feeders will experience power interruptions. 

    According to APP, residents in Attock Circle, specifically Ghorghashti, Bara Zee, Maskinabad, Shah Dir, Radio Pak-I & II, Larnpur, Qaziabad, GBHP Colony, HMC Road, Taxila, Sher Shah Suri, Islampura Feeder, Chakwal Circle, Chakra Feeders, Jhelum Circle, and F-3 Gul Afshan, Sanghui, Chotala, Kantrela, Pakhwal feeders, and their surrounding areas will also be affected by this planned power suspension. 

  • K-Dramas we’re excited to watch this October

    K-Dramas we’re excited to watch this October

    October is shaping up to be an exciting month for K-drama fans with projects featuring big names like Cha Eun-Woo, Bae Suzy and Kim Ro-Woon. Scroll through this list to check out what your favorite star’s next show is all about.

    1. A Good Day to be a Dog

    If you loved Cha Eun-Woo in ‘True Beauty’ and ‘Rookie Historian’, you will be happy to watch him back in another romantic comedy. Starring Park Gyu-Young, the serial revolves around a woman who is cursed to turn into a dog every midnight, and she must find the man who can help her break this spell, but it turns out that he is also deeply terrified of dogs. The series is set to stream on Netflix from October 11.

    1. The Wedding Battle

    K-Drama fans who can’t get enough of Kim Ro-Woon in ‘Destined With You’ are in for a treat with his upcoming rom-com. In this historical drama, the heart throb plays a widow, who teams up with a rival matchmaker to marry off four young maidens. But circumstances change when the two matchmakers realise they’re falling for each other. The series is set to premier from October 30.

    1. Doona!

    ‘Alchemy of Souls’ actress Bae Suzy is set to come back after a year with ‘Doona!’ where she plays a singer in a band, who shocks audiences by announcing her retirement, and begins living in a shared home with a college student. The nine-episode series will release on Netflix on October 20.

    1. Doctor Slump

    Starring Park Hyung Sik (Strong Girl Bong-Soon) and Park Shin-Hye (The Inheritors), the drama is a slice of life focusing on four doctors who are burned out from their profession. The two meet at the time they’re at the lowest point of their lives and are trying to rediscover themselves after quitting their jobs.

  • ‘Last opportunity’ for police to recover Imran Riaz Khan: Lahore High Court

    ‘Last opportunity’ for police to recover Imran Riaz Khan: Lahore High Court

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) has said on Wednesday that it’s the “last opportunity” for Punjab Police to recover missing journalist and YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan by September 26, adjourning the hearing till then.

    Imran Riaz was arrested after May 9 riots. He was taken to the Cantt police station and then transferred to Sialkot prison.

    After that, the law officer told the court that Imran Riaz had been released from jail after taking a written undertaking on May 15.

    On May 16, the father of the anchorperson, Muhammad Riaz, filed a first information report (FIR) with the Sialkot Civil Lines police, alleging that Imran had been kidnapped.

    The FIR was registered against “unidentified persons” and police officials for allegedly kidnapping Imran, invoking Section 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine a person) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

    Imran Riaz’s father also filed a petition in the LHC for his recovery.

  • PKR gains for 11th straight session, reaches Rs293.88 per dollar

    PKR gains for 11th straight session, reaches Rs293.88 per dollar

    The Pakistani rupee continued its upward trend against the US dollar, marking the 11th consecutive session of appreciation in the interbank market on Wednesday.

    According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the rupee closed at 293.88, reflecting a 0.35 per cent increase. This follows a 0.36 per cent appreciation on Tuesday, when it settled at 294.90.

    Recent days have seen a remarkable strengthening of the rupee, with a nearly 4.5 per cent gain since hitting a record low of 307.1 in the inter-bank market on September 5. 

    This turnaround is attributed to structural reforms introduced by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in the Exchange Companies’ (ECs) sector and reported efforts to combat smuggling, both of which have provided support to the currency markets.

    Globally, the US dollar remained steady on Wednesday, with a slight softening against the yen, in anticipation of the Federal Reserve’s highly anticipated rate decision later in the day. 

    The US dollar index, which gauges the greenback against a basket of currencies, held steady at 105.13 as traders awaited the Fed’s announcement. Market expectations are that the Fed will likely maintain interest rates in the range of 5.25 per cent to 5.50 per cent, putting the spotlight on the central bank’s forward guidance.

    Meanwhile, oil prices, a significant indicator of currency stability, declined by nearly $1 on Wednesday, ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision. Investors remain uncertain about when peak interest rates will be reached and the potential impact on energy demand. 

    These price drops occurred despite larger-than-expected reductions in US oil stockpiles and weaker US shale output, both of which point to limited crude supply for the remainder of 2023.

  • Passenger arrested for carrying Ihram towels soaked in heroin on flight

    Passenger arrested for carrying Ihram towels soaked in heroin on flight

    The Airport Security Force (ASF) has recovered Rs. 70 million worth of heroin in a raid from a passenger flying to Istanbul from Islamabad International Airport.

    The suspect, Imran, was travelling for Umrah when 5 kg and 448g of drugs were found on his person. He had soaked three Ihram towels with a solution of heroin.

  • ANP leader Arbab Ghulam Muhammad Kasi found dead in Kuchlak area

    ANP leader Arbab Ghulam Muhammad Kasi found dead in Kuchlak area

    Arbab Ghulam Muhammad Kasi, a senior leader of the Awami National Party (ANP), was found dead on Tuesday in the Kuchlak area of Balochistan.

    The SHO of the new Kuchlak police station has said that the body of the senior leader was found in the village of Sheikh Jamal Atuzai in the Kuchlak area. Official authorities have taken custody of the body.

    According to the initial report, a gunshot wound on the right temple is visible, while a bullet casing was also found at the crime scene.

    Police and other official authorities are still investigating whether the incident was murder or suicide.

    The body of the ANP leader has been transferred to Quetta Civil Hospital for a post-mortem.