Author: newsdesk

  • ADB set to approve $1.5 billion loan for Pakistan today

    ADB set to approve $1.5 billion loan for Pakistan today

    A $1.5 billion programme loan for Pakistan is slated to be approved by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday (today) as part of the BRACE (Building Resilience with Active Countercyclical Expenditure) programme.

    According to Geo, the Board of the ADB will meet in Manila to discuss whether to approve a $1.5 billion programme loan for Pakistan. It is anticipated that this loan will be disbursed after receiving permission next week, assisting Islamabad in replenishing its depleting foreign exchange reserves.

    Additionally, it is anticipated that the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will approve $500 million in co-financing, bringing the total distribution to $2 billion for the current month.

    With a projected current account deficit of $10 to $12 billion and an external debt servicing obligation of $22.9 billion, Pakistan needs $34 billion for the current fiscal year. On the flip side, the terrible floods made the already bad situation with the economy even worse.

    Pakistan suffered losses of $32.4 billion, according to the group of international donors, which also included the World Bank, ADB, UNDP, and EU. Pakistan also needed $16.2 billion for building expenditures.

    An official document states that the $1.5 billion BRACE programme loan will assist Pakistan in responding to the deepening macroeconomic crisis exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the catastrophic floods that have affected close to 33 million people. Prior to the latest floods, Pakistani officials had already begun work on this programme loan.

    The amount of countercyclical actions taken by the government to lessen the negative effects of cumulative external shocks, particularly on the poor and vulnerable, comes to around $2.4 billion.

  • Neighbour who went to resolve dispute between husband and wife, killed by husband

    Neighbour who went to resolve dispute between husband and wife, killed by husband

    A domestic dispute between a husband and wife in India ended in the death of their neighbour who came to help resolve the matter.

    The incident took place in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Hearing the loud sounds coming from the house, the neighbour went there to resolve the dispute, returning home once the matter appeared settled.

    However, after a while, the husband went to the neighbour’s house and tortured him to death.

    According to Indian media, the wife objected to cooking mutton on Tuesday over which a fight broke out between the two.

    Many followers of the Hindu religion consider Tuesday the holiest day of the week and try not to cook any meat on that day.

    After the neighbour’s death, the police registered a complaint against the husband on the basis of his wife’s statement. He was arrested on the same day.

  • ‘Chaar saal haath nahin milaya, abb aakay kehtay hain hamaaray sath baat karein’: Shehbaz Sharif

    ‘Chaar saal haath nahin milaya, abb aakay kehtay hain hamaaray sath baat karein’: Shehbaz Sharif

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has said that Imran Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), did not shake hands with the Opposition for four years while he was in power but now he wants to talk.

    Shehbaz Sharif was referring to reports of the government holding talks with the PTI chief.

    The Premier, while addressing an event of the Planning Division, said that he and the government were ready to take tough decisions for the sake of the country and its betterment.

    Without talking Khan’s name, the Prime Minister said, ” You labeled us as thieves and corrupt. Had you taken steps for the betterment of our youth, and introduced innovative programmes for their improvement, I would be standing here and praising you instead.”

    Accusing the former prime minister of dividing the country, Shehbaz Sharif said that this is not how great nations are made. “For four years, you said you don’t want to shake hands with the Opposition, but now, in present times and conditions, you say that we should talk,” said the prime minister.

    “For how long will this duplexity continue? For the national interest [of the country] we are ready [to hold talks]. I am not going into details here, but what I am saying here is that I am ready to give any sacrifice for my country,” he stated.

    Journalist Saleem Safi has also revealed that the PTI Chairman Imran Khan has sent a message to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Shairf.

    “They contacted Nawaz Sharif,” Safi said about PTI. “Imran Khan sent a message to Nawaz Sharif to team up against the establishment. However, Nawaz Sharif did not accept the proposal,” said Safi while speaking on Geo News programme ‘Report Card.’

    “Khan Saab sent a messenger to Nawaz Sharif, you heard this in Khan’s [leaked audio] as well that no matter what happens, whether it is fair, legal or illegal, so he will continue to do such things. He will continue to blackmail,” stated Safi.

    When the anchor asked what was the message sent to the elder Sharif, Safi replied, “The message was that we two should shake hands, including [Asif Ali] Zardari and that we all team up against the establishment. However, he [Sharif] rejected the offer.”

  • Pakistani and Indian officials participated in ‘off the record’ sessions

    Pakistani and Indian officials participated in ‘off the record’ sessions

    Senior serving and retired Pakistani and Indian officials participated in a conference organised recently by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IIS) in Oman, reports Rezaul Hasan Laskar for Hindustan Times.

    The 15th edition of the Southern Asia Security Conference saw officials from both sides participating in “off the record” sessions that were held behind closed doors.

    The conference, which was held in Muscat from September 17 to September 18, saw the participation of an Indian delegation that included the external affairs ministry’s pointperson for Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran, joint secretary J P Singh, and at least two former officials from the external intelligence setup who continue to be active in tracking Pakistan-related issues, writes Laskar.

    “The Pakistani side was represented by former foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, the special representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, and Brig Zulfiqar Ali Bhatty, the director of strategic communications in Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Haneef Atmar, the foreign minister in the former Afghan government led by president Ashraf Ghani, also participated in the conference.”

    The conference was held at a time when there are virtually no bilateral contacts between India and Pakistan, with relations having plummeted since New Delhi scrapped Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in August 2019.

  • Lizz Truss resigns as UK prime minister

    Lizz Truss resigns as UK prime minister

    After only 45 days in the position, Prime Minister Liz Truss abruptly announced her resignation. The Prime Minister said that a Tory leadership election will be held in the coming week to choose her successor.

    After her government was overthrown and the majority of her economic policies were abandoned, Tory MPs pushed Ms Truss to leave.

    According to Al Jazeera, Ms Truss was elected by the Conservative membership in September, but after making a number of U-turns, she was forced to resign. In a speech outside Downing Street, Ms Truss said: “I recognise that I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party.”

    Ms Truss declared that she would stay in her position until a replacement legally assumes the role of party leader and is chosen as King Charles III’s prime minister.

    When Ms Truss leaves office, she will hold the record for the shortest tenure as prime minister in British history. She took office 44 days ago. Following Ms Truss’ resignation address, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer demanded a quick election.

    In her speech, Ms Truss said she entered “office at a time of great economic and international instability”, as war rages in Ukraine and living costs skyrocket. However, her retirement follows the resignation of a crucial minister, former home secretary Suella Braverman, and a disorderly parliamentary vote in which Tory MPs dissented.

  • Indonesia bans all syrup, liquid medication after death of nearly 100 children

    Indonesia bans all syrup, liquid medication after death of nearly 100 children

    Indonesia has suspended sales of all syrup and liquid medication in the country after the death of nearly 100 children in the region.

    According to the media reports, a few syrup medicine was found to contain ingredients linked to Acute Kidney Injuries (AKI), which have killed a total of 99 young children this year.

    The country’s authorities have so far not disclosed the brands or types of syrup medicines suspected to have caused the illnesses. For now, the government has temporarily banned the sale and prescription of all syrup and liquid medicines.

    Indonesian health officials said they had reported around 200 cases of AKI in children, most of who were aged under five

    “Some syrups that were used by AKI child patients under five were proven to contain ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol that was not supposed to be there, or is supposed to be in very little amount,” said Indonesia’s Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin.

    Earlier this month, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a global alert over four cough syrups, allegedly manufactured in India, that were linked to the deaths of almost 70 children in The Gambia.

  • ‘Mai PPP mein hoon, Imran mera dost hai’: Aitzaz Ahsan

    ‘Mai PPP mein hoon, Imran mera dost hai’: Aitzaz Ahsan

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) stalwart Aitzaz Ahsan has said that he is a member of the PPP and that Imran Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s Chairman is a friend of his.

    “I am part of PPP, but having said that, Imran Khan and I are friends,” said Aitzaz.

    “PPP is my family. We have differences of opinion on things at times. And that is healthy, and a good thing as PPP is a democratic party, and we value opinions,” said Aitzaz while addressing a press conference.

    “Among all the national parties, PPP is the only one which does not involve religion into politics,” said Aitzaz.

    Prior to this, PTI leader Farrukh Habib invited Aitzaz to join the party, saying, “He is a role model for political workers.”

    “Aitzaz Ahsan openly disagrees with his party’s decision while no one can dare to disagree in PPP and PML-N,” he said.

    Farrukh Habib said that if Aitzaz Ahsan wanted to join PTI, he was welcome. “We have opened our doors for every good person,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Pakistani Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Caption retd Safdar, who also happens to be Maryam Nawaz’s husband, has alleged that Aitzaz Ahsan was trying to become a senator on a PTI ticket.

    “Aitzaz Ahsan has made the judgment of this respectful court very controversial. He has spent 40 years as a lawyer and yet he did this,” Safdar said while talking to media outside Lahore High Court.

  • Billionaire Mukesh Ambani buys Dubai’s most expensive villa for $163 million

    Billionaire Mukesh Ambani buys Dubai’s most expensive villa for $163 million

    India’s second-richest man is expanding his Dubai real estate portfolio with the acquisition of a new beachfront mansion, shattering his previous record for the most expensive residential real estate transaction in the city in a couple of months.

    According to reports, Mukesh Ambani purchased the Palm Jumeirah property from the family of Kuwaiti tycoon Mohammed Alshaya last week for approximately $163 million.

    Starbucks, H&M, and Victoria’s Secret have local franchises owned by Alshaya’s company. Ambani, whose net worth is $84 billion, is the chairman of Reliance Industries Ltd., the largest firm in India by market value.

    The tycoon has been buying up properties abroad and is increasingly searching for second residences in the west. According to Bloomberg, Ambani is looking into purchasing a home in New York and Reliance spent $79 million last year purchasing Stoke Park, a renowned country club in the United Kingdom.

    According to Bloomberg, the $80 million mansion that Ambani bought earlier this year is only a short stroll from his most recent purchase in Dubai. Until another mansion on the palm-shaped island sold for $82.4 million, that transaction represented the largest residential sale in the history of the city.

    This Thursday, the Dubai Land Department reported a $163 million real estate transaction in Palm Jumeirah without identifying the purchaser. Reliance’s spokesman declined to comment, and Alshaya’s representatives did not respond to calls for comment.

  • ‘Murder of school van driver in Swat was honour killing’: police

    Inspector General (IG) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police, Moazam Jah Ansari, has said that the case of an attack on a school van in Swat on October 10 was actually an “honour killing incident”.

    Addressing a press conference, the IG said that the murder killed his sister’s husband [the van’s driver] for honour. “We have collared one of the three suspects, while the other two will soon land in the hands of police”, he added.

    Earlier, the police had also claimed that the van driver was in fact the target of the shooting incident which happened while there were 10 to 11 children in the van.

    Moreover, Ansari said, another incident of firing in which children were apparently targeted in Lower Dir was also an armed clash between two rival groups.

    It is pertinent to mention that following the incident of October 10, protestors in Swat valley took to the streets to condemn the attack, believing it was an act of terrorism.

    Many journalists and politicians also expressed concern after the horrifying attack on a school van which left one child injured.

  • ‘Imran Khan sent a message to Nawaz Sharif to team up against the establishment’: Saleem Safi

    ‘Imran Khan sent a message to Nawaz Sharif to team up against the establishment’: Saleem Safi

    Journalist Saleem Safi has revealed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has sent a message to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Shairf.

    “They contacted Nawaz Sharif,” Safi said about PTI. “Imran Khan sent a message to Nawaz Sharif to team up against the establishment. However, Nawaz Sharif did not accept the proposal,” said Safi while speaking on Geo News programme ‘Report Card.’

    “Khan Saab sent a messenger to Nawaz Sharif, you heard this in Khan’s [leaked audio] as well that no matter what happens, whether it is fair, legal or illegal, so he will continue to do such things. He will continue to blackmail,” stated Safi.

    When the anchor asked what was the message sent to the elder Sharif, Safi replied, “The message was that we two should shake hands, including [Asif Ali] Zardari and that we all team up against the establishment. However, he [Sharif] rejected the offer.”

    Giving a reason as to why Nawaz rejected the offer Safi revealed that his matters are set with the establishment, “Why would he want to make matters worse now,” wondered the senior journalist.