Author: newsdesk

  • Amazon to cut over 18,000 jobs citing economic uncertainty

    Amazon to cut over 18,000 jobs citing economic uncertainty

    Amazon has announced it will cut more than 18,000 jobs from its workforce, the largest set of layoffs in the US company’s history, as it battles to save costs.

    The company’s e-commerce and human resources departments will be primarily impacted by the layoff decisions, which Amazon will announce on January 18.

    The layoffs represent 6 per cent of Amazon’s almost 300,000 corporate employees and are a striking turnabout for a business that just tripled its base pay level in an effort to compete more fiercely for talent, according to BBC.

    With around 1.5 million employees overall, including warehouse workers, Amazon is the second-largest private employer in the United States (US), after Walmart Inc.

    CEO Andy Jassy claimed in the message that the unstable economy and the increased hiring over the last few years have made this year’s annual planning more difficult.

    Amazon, whose stock price has more than halved in the past year, has prepared for slower growth as rising inflation has led both businesses and consumers to reduce spending. The company’s financial situation has drastically declined. It changed from a delivery service that was deemed essential during the epidemic to one that was overbuilt in comparison to overall demand.

    Jassy’s statement was published after the Wall Street Journal reported that over 17,000 staff would be let go. He claimed that as a result of a leak, Amazon decided to break the news without first informing worried staff.

    Amazon plans to pay severance and is still required to submit some legal notices regarding significant layoffs. Jassy claims that Amazon has survived unstable and difficult economic times in the past and will do so in the future.

  • ‘Long march mein jaan daalnay ke liye drama keeya gaya’, claims lawyer of person who shot at IK

    ‘Long march mein jaan daalnay ke liye drama keeya gaya’, claims lawyer of person who shot at IK

    Advocate Mian Dawood—the lawyer of Naveed Meher who shot at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan—said that the incident was all planned by the party itself.

    Addressing a press conference on Thursday (today), the lawyer detailed claims about the incident at Wazirabad in which Khan survived an attempted assassination.

    He rejected the Joint Investigation Report (JIT), saying it had “distorted the facts”. He also claimed that PTI worker Moazzam was killed by Imran’s own guard.

    “Long march mein jaan daalnay ke liye drama keeya gaya“, (It was all a drama to revive the long march.), Dawood claimed.

    However, a day earlier, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, in a presser, said that the forensic test of Imran’s guards’ weapons established that none of them fired even a single shot.

    He added that PTI worker Moazzam was killed by a bullet aimed at the detained shooter. “The assassin had to be killed on the spot but ill-fated Moazzam came in the way,” Chaudhry said.

    However, talking to reporters today, Dawood refuted PTI’s claim saying that the video that showed Imran’s guard firing was not being made part of the case record.

    He claimed that PTI knew about the guard shooting but they kept quiet because otherwise Khan and his guard would have to face murder charges.

    “The purpose of the JIT was to save Imran and his guard. It was an attempt to waste evidence. And they did it. If we connect the dots, Imran’s guard is responsible,” he stated.

    About Chaudhry’s press conference, Dawood raised a question about how the JIT report reached PTI before its submission to the court.

    “JIT prepared the investigation report at Zaman Park after consultation with PTI lawyers,” alleged Mian Dawood.

    “This clearly means that the report has no legal value. If PTI believes that the attack was genuine, then why are they running away from getting the FIR registered,” he questioned.

    On the day of the incident, Naveed was arrested and instantly confessed to committing the crime.

  • Shah Rukh Khan held another round of #AskSRK and the result was *chef’s kiss*

    Shah Rukh Khan held another round of #AskSRK and the result was *chef’s kiss*

    Shah Rukh Khan is the undisputed King of Sass, and can out-wit his harshest critics with a smirk. His daily social media postings can range from humorous musings about stuff to sometimes sending a funny comeback to any fans commenting on his posts.

    One of the best parts about Twitter is his #AskSRK where he answers any and every kind of question fans have for him, and the results are chef’s kiss. We have some of our favorite responses right here.

    Starting with this wholesome interaction between SRK and actress Alia Bhatt

  • Pakistan Customs foils attempt to smuggle chalia worth Rs2.6 crore in Karachi

    Pakistan Customs foils attempt to smuggle chalia worth Rs2.6 crore in Karachi

    An operation on Karachi’s Northern Bypass to smuggle chalia (betel nuts) worth millions was thwarted on Wednesday by Pakistan customs intelligence.

    According to information, the anti-smuggling squad of Pakistani customs stopped a dumper on the northern bypass of Karachi during an intelligence-based operation.

    In response to a tip, the customs team put in place intense surveillance, which resulted in the seizure of a dump truck carrying betel nuts worth around Rs26 million. A case has been filed, and further investigation is underway.

    The dangerous drug chalia (betel nuts), according to the customs inspectors, was concealed in the stones and several other cars were in the convoy with the dumper.

    Four non-custom-paid cars were also seized by the customs inspectors. The vehicles and chalia (betel nuts) are valued at Rs55 million.

    In an earlier large-scale operation, Pakistan Customs in Karachi seized non-duty-paid products worth over Rs160 million.

    The Pakistan Customs anti-smuggling team conducted the operations in various Karachi neighbourhoods.

    In another raid, the Pakistani customs team seized significant quantities of betel nuts, cigarettes, and gutka from a bus after acting on a tip-off in Liaquatabad. The items reportedly cost Rs26 million.

  • ‘I was knocked to the floor’ Prince Harry reveals physical altercation with brother Prince William

    ‘I was knocked to the floor’ Prince Harry reveals physical altercation with brother Prince William

    A leaked chapter of Prince Harry’s upcoming memoir Spare includes details of a physical altercation between brothers Prince William and Prince Harry, which ended with the latter receiving “scrapes and bruises” down his back.

    The title of Prince Harry’s memoir Spare, expected to hit bookstores next week, refers to an old saying in royal and aristocratic circles, that the first son is the one who inherits the titles and wealth of the family, while the second-born is the spare, in case anything should happen to the first child.

    According to The Guardian, which had obtained the book, the alleged fight started because of the the royal family’s disapproval of Prince Harry’s marriage to Meghan Markle, whom Prince William had called “difficult”, “rude” and “abrasive”.

    The interaction began when the now Prince of Wales had visited Harry at Nottingham Cottage in Kensington to discuss “the whole rolling catastrophe” of their relationship and struggles with the press. But when William reached his place, Harry could notice that his brother was already “piping hot”.

    After William complained about Harry’s wife, Meghan, the former prince responded by reminding his brother that he expected better and didn’t expect him to repeat what the press were already saying about her. However, Harry writes that William was not willing to listen, and which led to both brothers shouting at each other. Harry says in the book that William was acting more like a heir, and wasn’t trying to understand where his brother was coming from.

    Harry further writes that William claimed he was trying to help his brother to which he had responded “Are you serious? Help me? Sorry- is that what you call this? Helping me?”

    This comment sparked the fight, after which Harry recounts how William swore and began stepping towards him. Harry remembers getting frightened and going to the kitchen to get his brother a glass of water.

    “Willy, I can’t speak to you when you’re like this,” Harry said as he gave William a glass of water.

    After this, Harry recalls how quickly his brother attacked him. He writes:

    “He set down the water, called me another name, then came at me. It all happened so fast. So very fast. He grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor. I landed on the dog’s bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me. I lay there for a moment, dazed, then got to my feet and told him to get out.”

    After this, Harry said William had urged his brother to fight back, as they had when they were children, but he had refused to do so.

    Before leaving, Harry recalled that William returned “looking regretful, and apologised.”

    Then once before leaving, William had said, “You don’t need to tell Meg about this.”

    “You mean that you attacked me?”

    “I didn’t attack you, Harold.”

    Harry writes that he didn’t tell his wife immediately, but instead he had revealed this all to his therapist. Meghan had noticed the ‘scrapes and bruises’ on his back, after which Harry revealed to her what happened. He recounted that she “wasn’t that surprised, and wasn’t all that angry. She was terribly sad.”

    It has been speculated in British media that the book might not paint a very negative picture of Harry’s father King Charles or his step mother Queen Consort Camilla, as she is her husband’s “red line”.

  • Stop eating chicken, it is harmful for health: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research

    Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research (MoFS&R) Tariq Bashir Cheema on Wednesday advised people to stop eating chicken.

    Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Cheema said that non genetically modified organisms (GMO) oilseeds would be imported into Pakistan from now on.
    The minister continued by stating that since chicken is being fed diets produced from GMO oilseeds, people should cease eating it because it is unhealthy. He claimed that GMO soybeans are dangerous and might cause cancer and other ailments.

    He also said that prior to 2015, GMO soybeans were not used in chicken feed. However, after that year, the poultry mafia allegedly levied tariffs on local soybeans, raising the price the commodity, while driving up imports. Cheema continued with the narration, revealing how the group began importing GMO soybean, making approximately Rs 2 billion against the import of the product worth Rs 1 billion. Imported soy products transmit disease and are bad for your health, he advised.

  • 33 candidates passed away waiting for local govt elections in Sindh

    33 candidates passed away waiting for local govt elections in Sindh

    33 candidates who had filed their nominations for the Local Government (LG) elections in Karachi and Hyderabad passed away waiting for the election to happen.

    The second phase of the local election has been postponed repeatedly.

    According to details provided by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), as many as 12 candidates for Union Council (UC) chairman and vice chairman have died since the time their nomination papers were submitted. Similarly, 22 candidates who were running for the district council, town committee, municipal committee and UC ward members seats also passed away.

    Last year, the ECP had told the Sindh government that the second phase of the LG polls in Karachi and Hyderabad would be held on July 24 but it was postponed due to floods.

    The electoral body rescheduled the LG elections for August 28, 2022 but they were put off again due to the same reason.

    On October 18, 2022, the ECP rescheduled the elections for October 23, 2022, but the provincial government sought their postponement for three months because it had deployed police in flooded areas, due to which it was unable to provide the required level of security to polling stations.

    After repeated delays, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Jamaat-e-Islami moved the Sindh High Court. In November, the ECP announced January 15 as the new date.

  • Imran Khan alleges that Gen Bajwa planned to murder him: report

    Imran Khan alleges that Gen Bajwa planned to murder him: report

    Former Prime Minister and Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has alleged that ex- army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa had planned to have him murdered and impose a state of emergency in the country, reports Dawn, referring to an interaction Khan had with Bol News team in Lahore.

    According to the news report, Bol News Lahore bureau chief Syed Khawar Abbas said that he would make “more revelations” during his press conference on Thursday (today) regarding the attempt on his life in Wazirabad, November 3, last year.

    The PTI chairman further said he could not cover up “the crimes that Gen Bajwa had committed” and added that he was being told by many to stop levelling allegations against the former army chief as he has retired.

    Earlier, Khan, claimed that Gen Bajwa was very close to current Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif.

    “There was information that General Bajwa was in contact with Shehbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif. The plan was to bring Shehbaz Sharif [into power] and remove me,” said Khan in an interview with GNN.

    General Bajwa retired as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in November, last year, handing over the command of the country’s military to General Asim Munir.

    Since his retirement, Bajwa has been the target of criticism by Imran Khan, who has levelled serious allegations against the former COAS. General Bajwa has yet to respond to the allegations officially.

  • 4,000 Safe City cameras to be installed in Rawalpindi to control crime

    4,000 Safe City cameras to be installed in Rawalpindi to control crime

    As part of the Rawalpindi Safe City Project, the administration is finalising a plan to monitor every section of the city by placing 4,000 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras on the roads.

    A spokesman for the Commissioner’s Office stated that Commissioner Saqib Manan had presided over a meeting to discuss the status of the Rawalpindi Safe City Project. He said that in order to increase surveillance and keep a close check on criminal activity in Rawalpindi, the Punjab government had chosen to engage in a contract with the Safe City Authority to put CCTV cameras in the city, according to The News.

    The meeting was informed that 950 locations had been chosen in Rawalpindi where around 4,000 cameras would be installed to monitor the city.

    He stated that the integrated system these CCTV cameras will operate under would assist reduce crime and strengthen the city’s law and order situation. Along with car tracking and surveillance, the idea would aid the police and the local government in managing traffic signals. Additionally, the project would be crucial in providing security during significant public events.

    In order to preserve peace and order in large cities, traffic control, and other public amenities, he claimed that current technology was employed everywhere; this system would also be implemented in Rawalpindi.

    A control and command centre would be built at the City Police Office, according to the spokesperson. He continued by saying that it would govern quick emergency and police responses, including intelligent traffic management, police unit dispatch, Rescue 1122 response, criminal identification, and virtual surveillance.

  • Umair Jaswal confirms he has dropped out of Shoaib Akhtar biopic ‘Rawalpindi Express’

    Umair Jaswal confirms he has dropped out of Shoaib Akhtar biopic ‘Rawalpindi Express’

    Singer Umair Jaswal has confirmed that he has dropped out of Shoaib Akhtar’s biopic ‘Rawalpindi Express’ due to personal and creative reasons. From his Instagram account, Jaswal wished the team behind the movie the best of luck for the future.

    “Due to creative and personal reasons, I have decided to step away from the Shoaib Akhtar biopic project RAWALPINDI EXPRESS. I will no longer be associated with any media or news related to this project.
    Wishing everyone involved all the best.”

    Actors like Sana Javed and Yasir Jaswal had sent their best wishes to the actor, hoping that he will find his preferred creative projects in the future.

    Shoaib Akhtar had announced the biopic on his Twitter page, by calling this the beginning of a beautiful journey.

    “Beginning of this beautiful journey. Announcing the launch of my story, my life, my Biopic, RAWALPINDI EXPRESS – Running against the odds. You’re in for a ride you’ve never taken before. The first foreign film is about a Pakistani Sportsman. Controversially yours, Shoaib Akhtar.”