Author: newsdesk

  • Indian call centre scammers looted $10 billion from Americans in 2021

    Indian call centre scammers looted $10 billion from Americans in 2021

    According to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) data, US citizens lost more than $10 billion in 2022 as a result of phishing calls made by illegal Indian call centres.

    The Times Of India stated citing FBI data that the majority of the victims of these fraud calls from Indian phishing gangs were senior US nationals over the age of 60 who lost more than $3 billion.

    The FBI has now sent a permanent representative to the US embassy in New Delhi following many incidences that were reported in 2022. To bust these gangs that have threatened to make India the hub of such illegal call centres, the representative will work closely with the CBI, Interpol, and the Delhi Police.

    So far in 2022, Americans have lost a total of $10.2 billion to such hoax calls, a 47 per cent increase over the $6.9 billion lost in 2021.

    Suhel Daud, the FBI’s South Asia director, told the publication that “romance-related” scams totaled INR 8,000 crore (PKR 217.7 billion) in 2021 and INR 8,000 crore (PKR 217.7 billion) in the final 11 months of 2022. Losses from “tech support” fraud have topped $3 billion in the last two years, with $347 million in 2021 and $781 million in 2022 so far.

    “It may not be a national security concern yet, but the reputation (of a country) is involved, and we don’t want India to suffer on that count,” Daud told the publication.

    He also stated that the FBI received 850,000 complaints regarding cyber crimes in 2021 and over 780,000 lakh complaints so far in 2022. Investment-related cybercrime ($3 billion), corporate email compromise ($2.4 billion), personal data breach ($1.2 billion), romance ($1 billion), and tech support ($781 million) were among the concerns.

  • the good, the bad, and the cringe: here are some of the most trending drama scenes of 2022.

    the good, the bad, and the cringe: here are some of the most trending drama scenes of 2022.

    We had a good run with Pakistani dramas this year. They made us laugh, they made us cry and some made us cringe. While the chemistry between some on-screen couples positively sizzled, some scenes made us want to wash our eyes with bleach.
    However all was not lost. The year give us some mind-bogglingly hilarious scenes this year, and social media managed to make some amazing content out of them.
    Here are some of the top trending drama clips that went viral on social media in 2022.

    1. First on our list is obviously Aye Musht-e-Khaak, which began gaining attention on social media after a confusing conversation between a husband and wife went viral on social media. Twitter users were perplexed at how urgently the husband kept pressurising his wife to go on a honeymoon with him, and wasn’t able to avoid the elephant in the room.

    We have to give it to this show because even though it provided us with a done-to-dust, extremely cringey storyline that reeked of male entitlement, the memes they provided us with were top tier.
    Like this user making a meme out of Feroze Khan having a breakdown

    https://twitter.com/Ishq_jess/status/1495791982756909062?s=20&t=KoeN1M7Hzf_LSB0g6koZNA

    Or Feroze Khan losing it in the car.

    2. The second one on our list is obviously going to be the drama “Haqeqat” for giving us this absolute masterpiece of a scene.

    3. The absolutely cringey phone call between a stalker and a girl, which apparently was suppose to be a love confession by the former.

    Proposing to her with flowers? A trip to Paris or Italy? Boys, Danish Taimoor is here with notes on how to make a lady literally swoon. By threatening to shoot yourself. No big deal, huh?

    5.Thanks to this clip Pakistanis learnt a new word overnight “razai behen-bhai”:

    https://twitter.com/Humtvnetwork/status/1437400681145516038?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1437400681145516038%7Ctwgr%5E63e31b1f3b7fdcc5059c713d24c23b92427d62b8%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fniche.com.pk%2Fcelebs-and-twitter-users-cant-stop-talking-about-the-term-razai-bhai-behen%2F

    6. James Dean who? Haroon Kadwani became the new face of manchild in 2022. This scene managed to generate an entire generation of memes we will tell our grandchildren about someday.

    7. Shoutout to the memorable time when women all over Pakistan were told that having curly hair is wrong.

    8. We should also applaud how dramas came to address domestic violence and abuse in a honest, refreshing manner. Like this scene in Phaans, where the mother refuses to shelter her son after he stands trial for abusing his wife.

    9. While other dramas educated their followers on the toxicity of rishta culture and how they break down any woman’s worth and self-esteem based on how rich she is or her beauty. Like this scene in Sinf-e-Aahan, Sajal Aly’s character schools her parents for forcing her to keep adhering to the toxic rishta culture, when she wanted to join the army like her brother.

    https://twitter.com/sidk24/status/1464652314019434500?s=20&t=nAgZijXUnafkbHbEHzfBKw

    10. The wonderful drama “Doobara” shattered stereotypes when it focused on a middle-aged woman starting her life all over again after she was married off against her choice when she was young. Hadiqa Kiyani won hearts on the internet when this clip began trending online where Hadiqa’s character reminds her son and sister-in-law that she isn’t just a mom, but a living breathing human being who deserves to live her own life without feeling like a burden.

  • ‘Unconventional politician’: Twitter praises Governor Sindh for giving bath to his toddler

    ‘Unconventional politician’: Twitter praises Governor Sindh for giving bath to his toddler

    Governor of Sindh, Kamran Tessori, shared a video of him giving bath to his son. In the video the Governor can be seen giving a bath to his son in a sink. Tessori does not reveal his son’s face to the camera.

    “Being present for your family as a father & husband is important. We want to create examples for our children especially boys to become an equally responsible partner at home,” he wrote in the caption of the post.

    Twitter is praising him for being a loving father. Have a look at the Twitter reactions:

  • After Islamabad and Balochistan, threat of terrorism reaches Karachi

    After Islamabad and Balochistan, threat of terrorism reaches Karachi

    The Sindh government has informed provincial police and DG Rangers that three banned organisations have planned major terrorist incidents in three major cities of the province—Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur.

    According to an official letter sent to the concerned authorities, the banned organisations include Baloch Revolution Army, Baloch Raaji Ajoi Sanga and Sindh Revolution Army.

    Moreover, the letter stated that the aforementioned organisations have also distributed arms and ammunition to their associated terrorists.

    On the other hand, Islamabad Police on Tuesday issued a “special security plan” after analysing the current security situation of the capital.

    The law enforcement agency said that at least 25 temporary security check posts have been established at different locations in Islamabad.

    Authourities will be using safe city cameras to record traffic at Red Zone entrances while the videos of metro bus service passengers will also be recorded.

    The police have also requested residents and foreigners to carry their identification documents.

    Since the suicide attack in Islamabad on December 23, multiple foreign missions including the United States (US) Saudi Arabia and Australia have advised their citizens and staff to limit their movement in the capital.

    Pakistan is facing a resurgence of terrorism since the militant Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) called off its ceasefire with the government in late November.

  • LHC extends winter vacations for Lahore’s schools and colleges due to smog

    LHC extends winter vacations for Lahore’s schools and colleges due to smog

    Due to rising smog, the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday ordered the government to extend the winter break for all schools and colleges in the capital of Punjab by one week.

    The order was given by the high court as it heard a petition calling for action to reduce smog in the city. It stated that the government was in charge of implementing preventative measures after the smog.

    The Provincial Disaster Management Authority’s (PDMA) director general has also been called before the LHC for the next hearing.

    The change occurs while Lahore consistently ranks first among the top 10 most polluted cities in the world.

    All public and private schools in the province will be closed from December 24 to December 31 due to the earlier announcement made by the Punjab School Education Department. The reopening day for the schools was January 2, 2023. Now, on January 9, schools and universities will reopen.

    As low-grade diesel emissions, smoke from seasonal agricultural burnoff, and colder winter temperatures combine to form stagnant clouds of smog, air pollution has gotten worse in Pakistan recently.

  • University in Ireland announces award named after journalist Arshad Sharif

    University in Ireland announces award named after journalist Arshad Sharif

    Ulster University in Ireland has announced the launch of an award named after the slain Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, who was assassinated in Kenya on 23rd October.
    Dr Colm Murphy penned a letter to the late journalist’s wife, Somiya Arshad, and requested her permission for the “Best Investigative Journalist Award” to be named after Arshad Sharif.
    The letter had explained that the Arshad Sharif award would be given to students for the best articles produced each year. In doing so, this award will honor Sharif’s legacy to fight for the truth and become a beacon of hope for the next generation’s journalists.
    Dr Murphy further expressed his condolences to Sharif’s family for their loss, and also noted that Arshad was an important alumni of the university, since he had graduated 17 years ago after completing his MA in Media Studies from the University.

  • Court frees rapist after he marries survivor

    The Peshawar High Court has acquitted a rape convict after he married the woman he violated, Rehan Piracha has reported for voice.pk. The man was acquitted after he reached a compromise with the twenty-year-old woman and married her. The rape survivor has hearing and speech disabilities.

    A bench in Mingora, consisting of Justice Mohammad Naeem Anwar and Justice Mohammad Ijaz Khan, accepted an appeal filed by the convict, Dawlat Khan, a resident of Buner district. His case was dismissed on the basis of compromise.
    A gender-based violence court in Buner had convicted the man on May 17, 2022, sentencing him to life imprisonment with a fine of Rs100,000 in default of which he had to undergo six months more imprisonment.

    The victim’s mother filed a report, and on August 24, 2020, the Doggar police station launched a case against him under section 376 (rape) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

    After the lady gave birth to a son and a DNA paternity test established that the guy was the boy’s biological father, the man was found guilty by the trial court.

    The case against him was registered under section 376 (rape) of the Pakistan Penal Code on August 24, 2020, in Doggar police station on the complaint of the victim’s mother.

  • Landa Bazar traders threaten to close shops due to increased taxes on imported products

    Landa Bazar traders threaten to close shops due to increased taxes on imported products

    Shop owners at Landa Bazaar Karachi have threatened to close their shops in protest of the hike in import tariffs.

    Muhammad Usman, secretary general of the Pakistan Second Hand Clothing Merchant Association, urged that the government remove the increased levies placed on imported cotton clothing at a news conference while threatening to close their stores.

    The spokesperson pointed out that the price of imported used clothing had increased due to government action. With the value of the dollar rising steadily, it is getting harder for people to satisfy their necessities. The authorities have raised the valuation on imported goods in such circumstances, he said.

    It was previously reported on December 23 that the government increased the tax on imported items from Rs81 to Rs225 per kg, forcing the dealers to increase the cost of normally inexpensive shirts, blankets, and other warm clothing.

    In the country’s numerous “Landa Bazars,” shoppers shopping for affordable winter clothing will have to contend with inflationary pressure.

    According to the announcement made in this respect, in addition to the sales tax and customs duty of 5 per cent, which are levied on imported used products, there is also a regulatory charge of 10 per cent and an income tax of 5.5 per cent.

    The price of imported used goods, such as warm clothing, sweaters, blankets, jackets, and shoes, as well as children’s toys, would increase as a result of the tax rate increase.

  • Suzuki to halt car and bike production in January 2023 due to parts shortage

    Suzuki to halt car and bike production in January 2023 due to parts shortage

    Following in the footsteps of Toyota Indus Motor Company (IMC), Pak Suzuki Motor Company (PSMC) has said that its production facility will be totally shut down from January 2 to 6, as a result of a ban on the import of auto parts.

    The automaker, in a notice sent to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), said that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has introduced a mechanism for prior approval for import under “HS code 8703 category (including completely knocked down – CKDs) vide circular No.09 of 2022 dated May 20, 2022”.

    “Restrictions had adversely impacted clearance of import consignment which resultantly affected the inventory levels.”

    “Therefore, due to shortage of inventory level, the management of the company has decided to shut down its plant for the automobile as well as a motorcycle for the period from January 2 to January 6, 2023,” PSMC said.

    It is important to note that this is not the first time that Suzuki, one of the country’s top-selling automakers, has closed a production facility. Several shutdowns have already been announced in 2022 by some well-known automakers, including Honda and Toyota.

    PSMC is involved in the assembly, progressive manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of Suzuki vehicles, pickup trucks, vans, 4x4s, motorcycles, and associated spare parts.

    According to Geo, due to the central bank’s limits on the opening of letters of credit (LCs) as a result of a severe liquidity crunch, Pakistan’s car sector, which is heavily dependent on imports, is currently experiencing serious difficulties.

  • Amber Khan’s daughter Alizeh reveals how she lost 35 kgs in a few months

    Amber Khan’s daughter Alizeh reveals how she lost 35 kgs in a few months

    Senior actor Amber Khan’s daughter Alizeh is currently trending on social media for her weight loss transformation. The youngster has shed 36 kgs in a span of six months.

    Alizeh has revealed in a recent vlog that she has done lots of exercises and dieting to maintain to lose the unwanted weight.

    Amber Khan's Daughter Loses 36 Kg Weight- Shares Routine

    Alizeh shared that she has been doing intermittent fasting in order to lose weight. She used to fast for 18 hours between meals and she had left bread and rice completely. She also added that sometimes she would eat junk food but then she will compensate for the later meals. She also kept working out which helped her achieve her goal.

    Earlier this year, Alizeh received some mean comments from netizens for her appearance on Nida Yasir’s morning show.

    Amber Khan Appears With Her Daughter On Good Morning Pakistan Set – Health Fashion