Author: newsdesk

  • Singaporean woman posed as goddess to cheat followers out of seven million dollars

    Singaporean woman posed as goddess to cheat followers out of seven million dollars

    A Singaporean woman, Woo May Hoe, claiming to be a deity, cheated her followers into handing her more than $7 million and made them take loans totalling another $6.6 million from different financial institutions, reported The Strait Times.

    The 53-year-old ‘goddess’ had about 30 followers, and she severely punished the ones who displeased her, pulling their teeth out from pliers and forcing some of them to eat human faeces.

    On one occasion, she even forced a victim to jump off the second storey and threatened to push another if they did not comply.

    Woo is now in remand after she pocketed the funds from 2012 to 2020.

    She was arrested in 2020 after followers lodged police reports against her.

    The prosecution said that many of Woo’s followers were suffering from or had relatives suffering from serious medical conditions at the time. They approached her, desperate for healing.

    Woo would guide them that it was crucial for her followers to clear their “bad karma”, and increase their “good karma” to improve their health and that of their loved ones.

    She also told them that asking for receipts or proof of payment was “offensive” for any of them. Besides money, she also ordered them to buy houses, condominium units and cars as a form of “worship” – which she used for her own benefit.

    Some beguiled followers left their full-time jobs and moved in to serve her as helpers.

    On May 8, Woo pleaded guilty to three counts of assault and two cheating charges.

    Forty-five other charges will be considered during sentencing.

    Woo was sentenced to 10 and a half years in jail, and she has made a $675,500 restitution.

  • Abhi to party shoroo honi hai; Miftah Ismail’s new party is ready for launch

    Abhi to party shoroo honi hai; Miftah Ismail’s new party is ready for launch

    Former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Miftah Ismail has unveiled the launch date of his new party, Awam Pakistan (AP), confirming that former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will be the party’s first chairperson.

    The ex-finance minister told Geo News on the phone that the Awam Pakistan party will be launched next month, and Abbasi will lead it. A ceremony will be held on July 6 in Islamabad.

    Explaining the party’s manifesto, the senior politician said that the aim of Awam Pakistan is to change the entire governance system of the country as the party believe in democracy and people’s will, adding that multiple politicians are in contact with him to join the party.

    Several politicians, including former PML-N leaders Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan Abbasi, Javed Abbasi, Syed Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Rana Zahid Tauseef, Zahid Binnouri, and Sardar Anwar Soomro, will be part of the Awaam Pakistan party.

  • Attaullah Khan Essa Khelvi opens up about his five marriages

    Attaullah Khan Essa Khelvi opens up about his five marriages

    Legendary singer Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi was invited as a guest on Hafiz Ahmed’s podcast where he talked about his five marriages for the first time.

    “My first four wives told me they couldn’t spend time with me and couldn’t manage living with me, so they left me. That’s why I had to marry a fifth time.”
    During the podcast he said, “I drove a taxi before becoming a singer. My father was against my singing career, so I had to do various jobs to make ends meet. Even after I became a singer, my father never listened to my songs and wasn’t happy about it. But my mother would tell me that he would listen to my songs when I wasn’t around.”

    Talking about the founder of PTI, Imran Khan, the singer said, “I’ve had a long-standing relationship with Imran Khan – we’re from the same family and area. I travelled with him to raise funds for Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital.”

  • FAFEN provides insights into election tribunals

    FAFEN provides insights into election tribunals

    The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has released a report on allegations of election rigging and election tribunals.

    During the general elections held in February 2024, 23 election tribunals were established across the country, with 17 currently active. Of the total cases pending in these tribunals, 46 percent involve petitioners from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    In total, 377 complaints were filed.

    Election results have been challenged at 50 seats in the National Assembly and 121 seats in the provincial assemblies. 13 per cent of the election petitions were filed by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), and nine per cent by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

    Other complaints include eight per cent from the Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), seven per cent from independent candidates, four per cent from the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), two per cent each from Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and the Awami National Party (ANP), while the Hazara Democratic Party and National Democratic Movement (NDM) have challenged results in two constituencies each.

  • Man lynched, body burnt over blasphemy allegations in Swat

    Man lynched, body burnt over blasphemy allegations in Swat

    A man has been lynched to death by a violent mob over blasphemy allegations in the Madyan area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Swat district on Thursday night.

    The mob invaded the police station, where the suspect had been taken into custody, assaulting him till he died, then burned his body.

    Furthermore, the violent mob also set fire to the Madyan police station, according to the District Police Officer (DPO).

    “Eight cops sustained injuries after outrageous protesters stormed the police station,” the police officials said.

    Meanwhile, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has taken notice of the incident and sought a report from the police chief.

  • Euro Cup: Spain defeats Italy by 1-0

    Euro Cup: Spain defeats Italy by 1-0

    Spain has defeated Italy by 1-0 in the Euro Cup football match today in Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen.

    Spain took the lead in the 55th minute of the game. Italy’s Ricardo Calafiori put the ball into his own net, which Spain took full advantage of, and Spain’s one-goal advantage remained until the end of the game.

    On the other hand, the match between Slovenia and Serbia was tied by one goal each.

  • T20 World Cup: Australia defeats Bangladesh by 28 runs under DLS method

    T20 World Cup: Australia defeats Bangladesh by 28 runs under DLS method

    Australia defeated Bangladesh by 28 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis system in the Super 8 stage match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

    Australia won the toss against Bangladesh and decided to field first.

    Bangladesh’s inning:

    Batting first, the Bangladesh team scored 140 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

    Bangladesh captain Najam Al Hussain scored 41 runs off 36 balls, Tohid Riday scored 40 runs off 28 balls and Laton Das scored 16 runs.

    Australian bowler Pat Cummins took 3 wickets for 29 runs and Adam Zampa took 2 wickets for 24 runs while Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stynes ​​and Glenn Maxwell took 1 wicket each.

    Australia’s inning:

    In response, Australia scored 100 runs in 11.2 overs under the Duckworth-Louis system for the loss of two wickets.

    David Warner scored 53, Travis Head scored 31 and Glen Maxwell scored 14 runs.

    Rishad Hossein took two wickets for Bangladesh.

  • PCB likely to change selection committee after World Cup embarrassment

    PCB likely to change selection committee after World Cup embarrassment

    After the disappointing performance in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup, there is a possibility of a change in the selection committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

    According to Geo sources, a change is expected in the PCB selection committee after the team’s poor performance. There is a strong possibility that Wahab Riaz will leave the committee, but no immediate decision is expected regarding Babar Azam’s captaincy.

    The Pakistan team has no white-ball match scheduled until November, so no decision is being made regarding Babar’s captaincy.

    Meanwhile, there is a strong possibility that new players will be given a chance in the home series of the national cricket team against Bangladesh.

    In March, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi formed a new selection committee consisting of 7 members, which did not have a chairman.

    The selection committee included Muhammad Yusuf, Wahab Riaz, Abdul Razzaq, and Asad Shafiq, as well as the head coach, captain, and analyst.

  • PBC warns more skilled Pakistanis will leave country due to increased taxes on salaried class

    PBC warns more skilled Pakistanis will leave country due to increased taxes on salaried class

    The Pakistan Business Council (PBC), the country’s foremost corporate advocacy platform, has issued a stark warning regarding the potential consequences of the proposed budgetary measures on the salaried class.

    In a letter dated June 20, 2024, the PBC expressed concerns that these measures would significantly hasten the brain drain in Pakistan.

    Drawing on data from the recently released Pakistan Economic Survey 2023-24, the PBC highlighted a substantial increase in the number of highly skilled individuals seeking employment abroad.

    The survey revealed that the number of highly skilled persons emigrating from Pakistan rose from 20,865 in 2022 to 45,687 in 2023, marking a 119 per cent increase.

    Additionally, there was a 26.6 per cent rise in the emigration of highly qualified professionals and a 2.28 per cent increase in semi-skilled trades during 2023. Unskilled categories also saw an 8.7 per cent increase in emigration.

    The PBC underscored that this 119 per cent surge in emigration is alarming, particularly as many of these individuals are experienced, high-quality professionals who are being lost to the formal sector.

    The council cautioned that the proposed changes in tax slab rates, especially the earlier application of the 35 per cent top rate, would exacerbate this brain drain.

    This warning follows the government’s decision to increase the tax liability for individuals earning more than Rs50,000 per month in the Budget 2024-25. The Finance Bill 2024 outlines that those earning Rs6 million or more annually (Rs500,000 monthly) would face an additional tax liability of Rs22,500.

    Interestingly, this same tax increase applies to those earning up to Rs12 million annually (Rs1 million monthly).

    The PBC also pointed out that the formal sector not only loses talent due to emigration but also suffers from the shift of professionals to the informal, untaxed sector. The council deemed the proposal to increase tax revenue from the formal sector as unjust.

    It argued that, unlike the government which can print money and borrow to fund salary increases for its employees, the private sector would be adversely affected by a higher brain drain as professionals seek lower-taxed environments both within and outside Pakistan.

    The PBC concluded by emphasizing that a vast majority of Pakistanis are seeking to move abroad due to inflation and high tax rates. The council stressed that further increasing the tax rate, while considering that salary income is taxed on a gross basis, is an anomaly that needs to be addressed.

  • T20 World Cup: India defeats Afghanistan by 47 runs

    T20 World Cup: India defeats Afghanistan by 47 runs

    In the 43rd match of ICC T20 World Cup, India defeats Afghaistan in Kingston Oval cricket stadium, Barbados.

    Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bat first against Afghanistan.

    First inning:

    India scored 181 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in the allotted 20 overs, with Surya Kumar Yadav leading the charge with 53 runs.

    Apart from this, captain Rohit Sharma 8, Virat Kohli 24, Rishabh Pant 20, Shivam Dubey 10 and Harik Pandya got out by scoring 32 runs, Jadeja scored 7 runs and Akshar Patel scored 12 runs.

    On behalf of Afghanistan, Fazalul Haq Farooqui and Rashid Khan took 3, 3 while Naveen ul Haq dismissed one player.

    Second inning:

    Chasing the target of 182, Afghnistan could only score 134 runs in alloted overs.

    For Afghanistan, Azmatullah Umarzai scored 26 runs, Najibullah Zadran 19, Muhammad Nabi 18 and Rehmanullah Gurbaz 11 runs.

    Jasprit Bumrah took and Arshdeep Singh too three wickets each while Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets for India.