Author: newsdesk

  • Pakistanis may soon get to watch Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Jawan’

    Pakistanis may soon get to watch Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Jawan’

    For fans in Pakistan who are bummed out on missing the opportunity to watch Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Jawan’ in theatres, there is finally a chance to see the film because the action thriller is coming to OTT platforms quite soon. According to India Today, the film is set to release on streaming platforms with a special twist: it will include scenes that were omitted from the theatrical release.

    While the film was approximately two hours and 45 minutes long, the OTT release is expected to be 3 hours and 15 minutes with the extra scenes.

    There is no release date confirmed yet by the team or Netflix.

    ‘Jawan’ has recently broken records, becoming one of the fastest Bollywood films to join the 500 crore club, beating Shah Rukh Khan’s previous film ‘Pathaan’ and Sunny Deol’s ‘Gadar 2’ according to Bollywood Hungama.

  • Senate orders restoration of student unions in Islamabad universities

    Senate orders restoration of student unions in Islamabad universities

    The Senate Standing Committee on Education has approved the Islamabad Capital Student Union Bill 2023.

    The Committee passed Capital Student Union Bill 2023 in ‘principle’ in a meeting held under the chair of Senator Irfan Siddiqui on Wednesday.

    The committee members were asked to submit suggestions in a week.

    Senator Behrmand Tangi stated that “problems” are created with the lack of student unions in educational institutions in the universities. He gave an example of the University of Peshawar which was closed for three months due to protests.

    “The purpose of this bill is to give rights to the students. This is not a political bill. With this bill, the problems of teaching in the university will be solved,” he said.

    Similarly, senator Jam Mehtab Dahar believes that unionisation can reduce student protests in universities.

    A representative of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), however, suggested establishing councils instead of students’ unions.

  • Six easy tips to keep your laptop cool and prevent overheating  

    Six easy tips to keep your laptop cool and prevent overheating  

    Overheating in laptops is pretty common, and many laptop owners have experienced it. Sometimes aging laptops may be overheating due to internal hardware problems that most people may not be able to fix.

    However, the most common type of overheating is caused by lack of adequate airflow within the machine. Overheating can cause your laptop to slow down, crash, or even suffer permanent damage. 

    If you want to keep your laptop running cool and healthy, there are a few things you can do: 

    1. Use your laptop on a flat surface. This will help to ensure that the air vents on the bottom of your laptop are not blocked. 
    1. Elevate your laptop. If you’re using your laptop on a soft surface, such as a bed or your lap, the air vents may be getting blocked. To improve airflow, try placing your laptop on a book or a lap desk. 
    1. Invest in a laptop cooling pad. Laptop cooling pads use fans to help draw heat away from your laptop. If you use your laptop for demanding tasks, such as gaming or video editing, a laptop cooling pad can be a great way to prevent overheating. 
    1. Clean your laptop’s vents regularly. Over time, dust and debris can build up in your laptop’s vents, blocking airflow. To clean your laptop’s vents, you can use a can of compressed air or a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment. 
    1. Monitor your laptop’s temperature. There are a number of different programs that you can use to monitor your laptop’s temperature. If you notice that your laptop is getting too hot, you can take steps to cool it down, such as closing unnecessary programs or taking a break from using your laptop. 
    1. Keep your laptop’s software up to date. Software updates often include performance improvements and bug fixes that can help to reduce overheating. 

    If you’ve tried all of the above tips and your laptop is still overheating, there may be a problem with the hardware. In this case, you may need to take your laptop to a qualified technician to have it repaired. 

    Here are some additional tips to help you prevent your laptop from overheating: 

    • Avoid using your laptop in hot environments
    • Close any programs that you’re not using
    • Reduce the brightness of your laptop’s screen
    • Put your laptop on sleep mode when you’re not using it
    • Don’t overclock your laptop

    By following these tips, you can help to keep your laptop running cool and healthy for many years to come. 

    Why is it important to prevent laptop overheating? 

    Overheating can cause a number of problems for your laptop, including: 

    • Reduced performance: When your laptop overheats, it will throttle its performance in order to protect itself from damage. This can lead to slower performance and lag. 
    • Crashes: If your laptop overheats too much, it may crash or even shut down completely. 
    • Permanent damage: Over time, overheating can damage your laptop’s internal components. This can lead to costly repairs or even replacement. 

    By taking steps to prevent overheating, you can help to keep your laptop running smoothly and efficiently for longer. 

  • World Cup 2023 official anthem released

    World Cup 2023 official anthem released

    ICC (International Cricket Council) has released the official anthem for the Cricket World Cup 2023, scheduled to start from October 5 in India.

    The anthem, titled ‘Dil Jashn Bole’, aims to capture the spirit and excitement of one of the most anticipated sporting events in the world.

    The anthem became more exciting with a star-studded performance by Indian actor Ranveer Singh.

    The anthem was written by Singh in collaboration with Bollywood composer Pritam.

    Read More: Pakistan fans want Muhammad Amir for World Cup 2023

    “It is truly an honor to be a part of the official anthem at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023,” said Singh.

    “This is a celebration of the sport we all love.”

    The 2023 ICC World Cup will be played in India from October 5 to November 19. Ten teams will compete at ten venues for the elusive title. The opener and final of the tournament will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

    The Cricket World Cup follows a round-robin format with all teams playing a total of 45 league matches.

  • ‘Don’t slander someone else’s religion’: Hareem Shah’s distasteful video slammed by users

    ‘Don’t slander someone else’s religion’: Hareem Shah’s distasteful video slammed by users

    Social media personality Hareem Shah was trolled by Twitter users yesterday after she uploaded a video where she can be seen visiting a Hindu temple.

    In the caption she had written:

    “Ek dafa Mandir gayi thi , bilkul bhi maza nahin aaya. Pata nahin ye log patthar ko kaise Khuda man lete hain.”

    Social media users criticised the Tiktok star for targeting the beliefs of a religious minority in Pakistan where non-Muslim communities have been subjected to attacks, pointing out that even in Islam, it is an insult to mock other religions and their practices.

    Religious minorities in Pakistan have been subjected to verbal and physical attacks, including the recent Jaranwala riots where a Christian neighborhood was set on fire by a mob over blasphemy allegations.

    READ MORE: Caretaker Prime Minister condemns attack on Christian Community in Jaranwala

    In January, human rights experts at the United Nations called to attention the rise of forced conversions, abductions and marriages of women from minority communities, urging the government to put an end to such practices.

    “We are deeply troubled to hear that girls as young as 13 are being kidnapped from their families, trafficked to locations far from their homes, made to marry men sometimes twice their age, and coerced to convert to Islam,” the experts said in a statement as reported by Al-Jazeera.

    “Why can’t people just respect each other’s religion and live in peace? Disgusting behaviour!” a user wrote.

    “Why do we Muslims feel entitled to belittle other religions? Imagine if a Hindu or a Christian had made a similar video in a mosque? How would we have felt? How is it fair to mock other religions? This is so disgusting I can’t even!

  • PM Kakar ordered to appear before court over fuel price increase

    PM Kakar ordered to appear before court over fuel price increase

    Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has received summons on Tuesday from a civil court in Gujranwala over the recent increase in the prices of petroleum products.

    Judge Mohammad Awais summoned the caretaker PM, secretary petroleum, and Gujranwala commissioner against the hike in petrol prices.

    Advocate Manzoor Qadir filed a petition on September 16 asking for a stay order on the decision of the caretaker government to increase fuel prices. According to the petition, the caretaker prime minister and other officials are “concerned parties” and responsible for the price hike.

    The court has ordered the caretaker prime minister and other officials to appear before the court on September 20 (Wednesday).

    The caretaker government had increased the petrol price by more than Rs 26 and the diesel price by over Rs 17 per litre last week.

    According to the Finance Ministry, the decision was taken due to the increase in oil prices in the international market.

  • Power sector’s circular debt surpasses Rs2 trillion despite massive tariff increase 

    Power sector’s circular debt surpasses Rs2 trillion despite massive tariff increase 

    Despite raising tariffs significantly, Pakistan’s power sector debt grew to Rs2.31 trillion by June 2023, up from Rs2.25 trillion in the previous fiscal year (FY22). This increase of Rs57 billion (about 3 per cent) over 12 months is quite different from FY22 when the debt actually decreased by Rs27 billion. 

    Here’s a breakdown of the key points: 

    1. In FY22, the debt was Rs2.25 trillion, but by June 2023, it had risen to Rs2.31 trillion. 

    2. In FY22, power producers were owed Rs1,351 billion, generation companies owed Rs101 billion to fuel suppliers, and Rs800 billion was held in Pakistan Holding Limited (PHL).  

    3. In FY22-23, the debt to power producers increased to Rs1,434 billion, while the debt to PHL decreased to Rs765 billion in FY23. 

    4. In FY22, some subsidies were reduced by Rs12 billion, but in FY23, there were no subsidies left. 

    5. The interest charges on delayed payments by independent power producers (IPPs) increased to Rs105 billion in FY22 but dropped to Rs100 billion by the end of FY23. 

    6. The markup paid on IPPs’ claims by PHL increased from Rs29 billion in FY22 to Rs43 billion in FY23. 

    7. The pending generation cost, including tariff adjustments and fuel charges, decreased from Rs414 billion in FY22 to Rs250 billion in FY23. 

    8. K-Electric’s outstanding dues went from Rs107 billion in FY22 to an excess payment of Rs53 billion in FY23. 

    9. However, power distribution companies (Discos) saw their losses due to inefficiency rise from Rs133 billion to Rs160 billion in FY23. 

    Read more: Pakistan to launch digital rupee to reduce printing and distribution costs 

    In simple terms, even though the government raised tariffs to collect more money for the power sector, the debt continued to increase. This debt is owed to various power-related entities, and some subsidies and charges also changed over the years. Additionally, while some costs went down, the losses due to inefficiencies in power distribution increased. 

  • Students pays four lacs to kill exam director for not leaking tests

    Students pays four lacs to kill exam director for not leaking tests

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police have arrested four people, including an employee of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Commission (KPPSC) on Tuesday on suspicion of killing a director of the commission, AAJ TV has reported.

    This was confirmed by SSP Operations Kashif Aftab Abbasi. Allegedly a KPPSC employee was also involved.

    Arshad Khan was KPPSC director of the examination.

    The case is still being probed as some suspects have been traced and additionally, mobile data has also been recovered from them.

    According to SSP Abbasi Khan was killed as he did not leak the paper to the students.

    In a post on X (formerly Twitter) journalist Iftikhar Firdous shared an AAJ TV clip reporting that the student paid Rs400,000 to a target killer to kill the Director Examination.

    Case

    Arshad Khan was shot on July 24 while he was on his way to Peshawar from Charsadda.

    He died on the spot from bullet wounds.

    At the time, police was unable to find the reason for the murder while the body was shifted to a hospital for post-mortem examination.

  • ‘Credible allegations’; Trudeau blames Indian govt agents for Nijjar murder

    ‘Credible allegations’; Trudeau blames Indian govt agents for Nijjar murder

    US, UK, Australia ‘deeply concerned’ over possible Indian role in Sikh leader’s murder

    The world is reacting after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement citing suspicion towards India in Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s murder case.

    The White House said it was “deeply concerned” about the allegations made by Trudeau.

    “We remain in regular contact with our Canadian partners. It is critical that Canada’s investigation proceed and the perpetrators be brought to justice,” White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said.

    Then, in an official statement, spokesperson for Australian foreign minister Penny Wong said, “Australia is deeply concerned by these allegations and notes ongoing investigations into this matter. We are closely engaged with partners on developments. We have conveyed our concerns at senior levels to India.”

    Foreign Secretary of the UK posted on X (formerly Twitter), “All countries should respect sovereignty and the rule of law. We are in regular contact with our Canadian partners about serious allegations raised in the Canadian Parliament. Important that Canada’s investigation runs its course and the perpetrators brought to justice.”

    Pulling no punches, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave a harshly worded statement on Monday about the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, mentioning links between the killers and the Indian government.

    The Canadian government has been probing into Nijjar’s murder case and the latest findings direct the fingers at the involvement of the Indian Government.

    Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh leader, was shot outside a Sikh temple on 18 June in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. As per the police’ evaluation, it was a “targeted” attack.

    “Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,”, said Trudeau.

    “In the strongest possible terms, I continue to urge the government of India to cooperate with Canada to get to the bottom of this matter.”, he added

    Similarly, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, also gave a staemnt in which she told the media that Indian diplomat, Pavan Kumar Rai, the head of RAW — India’s external intelligence agency — had been expelled over the case.

    “We see this possible breach of sovereignty as completely unacceptable, and so that is also why we’re coming [out] with this information today,” she added.

    On the other hand, in a tit-for-tat move, India ordered a senior Canadian diplomat to leave the country, keeping in view the “growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities”.

    India’s foreign ministry has rejected all allegations, deeming them as “absurd”.

    In a statement, the ministry said: “Allegations of Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated,”

    “We are a democratic polity with a strong commitment to rule of law.”

    Previously, prime minister Trudeau shed light on the murder while in conversation with Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi at the G20 summit last week in New Dehli. He stated that the Indian role in the case would not be acceptable and that they expected the state’s cooperation in the investigation.

    Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar?

    Nijjar moved to Canada in 1997, working first as a plumber and later establishing a plumbing business in Surrey, B.C. He also played a vital role in the Khalistan movement — a call for a separate Sikh nation in India.

    Terming him a “terrorist”, the Indian government said he was wanted by the state for his alleged active involvement in the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) — an organisation deemed as a terrorist group by the country.

    Nijjar’s friend and fellow Sikh nationalist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun spoke with Global News, stating that he was warned that “Indian intelligence agents had put a bounty on his head”.

    Similarly, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service also warned Nijjar that they had information that he was, “under threat from professional assassins,”.

  • Rice exports from Pakistan decline by 17.33% in first two months of current fiscal year 

    Rice exports from Pakistan decline by 17.33% in first two months of current fiscal year 

    During the initial two months of the current fiscal year, a total of 340,237 metric tonnes of rice, with a market value of $233.991 million, were exported. This marked a notable contrast with the previous year’s corresponding period, which recorded exports of 507,144 metric tonnes of rice valued at $283.056 million.  

    According to data provided by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, rice exports from July to August 2023 witnessed a 17.33 per cent decline in comparison to the same period in the previous year. 

    However, within this timeframe, Basmati rice exports experienced 8.29 per cent growth. Approximately 79,257 metric tonnes of Basmati rice, valued at $94.733 million, were exported, compared to the previous year’s figures of 84,709 metric tonnes at a cost of $87.480 million. 

    Concurrently, the nation achieved earnings of $39.338 million by exporting approximately 20,539 metric tonnes of fish and fish preparations, showing an improvement from the previous year when 15,922 metric tonnes of these products were exported, amounting to $38.086 million. 

    Read more: WhatsApp to introduce animated avatars for video calls soon 

    It is noteworthy that overall food group exports in the first two months of the current fiscal year registered a modest decrease of 1.65 per cent. The total value of food commodities exported during this period amounted to $711.748 million, contrasting with the previous year’s export value of $723.696 million for the same duration. 

    On the other hand, food group imports into the country during the initial two months of the current fiscal year witnessed a substantial decline of 26.91 per cent when compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. From July to August 2023, food imports decreased from $1.783 billion to $1.303 billion.