Author: newsdesk

  • Karachi needs Shehbaz Speed: BBZ

    Karachi needs Shehbaz Speed: BBZ

    Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that Karachi needs Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s speed.

    Shehbaz Speed was a term popularly used for projects completed in a short duration when Sharif was the Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab.

    While giving a speech at the groundbreaking ceremony of K-IV project, Bilawal addressed PM Shehbaz, stating, “We are looking at you, you should form your own team to solve these problems being faced by Sindh including Karachi.”

    He added that the prime minister has the support of the two major parties of Sindh and all partners of the coalition government want to solve the problems of the country together. “When we all continue to work together, all of Pakistan’s problems can be solved,” he said.

    Talking about Karachi, he said that if the government pays attention to the metropolis according to its potential, then not only the IMF could bid farewell, but the whole nation could also stand on its own feet.

    About the May 9 episode, he warned that if serious crimes like setting fire to Jinnah House Lahore, demolishing martyrs’ memorials and attacking military installations are neglected, then running this country will become not only difficult but impossible. He also asked that if the conspiracy of May 9 events had been hatched either in Bilawal House, Raiwand or Nine Zero, what would have been the reaction to it.

    Bilawal said that when the police went to comply with the court notice in March this year, Zaman Park had been turned into a battleground. He added that even during PTI’s long march, participants had arms, but the government did not take action, adding that the Prime Minister could have banned PTI on the basis of foreign funding case and Al-Qadir Trust case if he wanted. “But we didn’t want the impression of political vendetta and setting a bad precedent,” he said.

  • Billo gone home: Abrar-ul-Haq, Imran Khan’s relative leave PTI

    More leaders continue to leave the embattled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as Friday’s toll reaches four members.

    After former federal minister Firdous Ashiq Awan and former provincial minister Murad Raas announced that they’re leaving PTI in the afternoon, Abrar ul Haq and Saifullah Niazi also held press conferences to say that they have quit the party.

    Saifullah Niazi, a relative and close confidant of Imran Khan’s, said in the presser that he wants to focus on his life, his family and his health. “The last one year has been very stressful,” he said, condemning the May 9 attacks. He left immediately afterwards, without replying to questions.

    In his presser, Abrar ul Haq said that he’s quitting politics altogether. He then sang a poem he had written, bursting into tears at the end of the recital.

  • Pakistani rupee maintains upward trend for fourth consecutive day, closes at Rs285.15 against dollar

    Pakistani rupee maintains upward trend for fourth consecutive day, closes at Rs285.15 against dollar

    According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the Pakistani currency has maintained its upward trend against the US dollar for the fourth consecutive working day in the interbank market.

    The local unit (PKR) has recovered Rs0.59 against the USD, closing at Rs285.15, while the US dollar closed at Rs285.74 on the previous day.

    In contrast, the open market has seen the dollar being sold at over Rs300. Last week, the rupee reached a record low of Rs298.93 against the US dollar.

     Experts attribute the fluctuation in the dollar rate to the deadlock over the IMF deal and ongoing political unrest in the country.

    Due to the delay in the revival of the $6.5 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout programme, Pakistan is now seeking additional funding from friendly nations.

    The staff-level agreement between the International Monetary Fund and Pakistan, initially scheduled for February 9, has been postponed.

  • ‘Stop body shaming’: Twitter gets ugly over politics

    As the political crisis in the country continues, social media has been set ablaze with feuds between users and public figures. One such recent altercation took place between Iffat Omar and Sara Taseer.

    Taseer, who has been a staunch supporter of Imran Khan, had tweeted in favor of the former cricket player by asking him to pack his bags and escape the country to avoid her late father Salmaan Taseer’s fate.

    However, actress and former model Iffat Omar, who has publicly condemned Imran Khan on social media, mocked the tweet.

    To which Taseer responded by saying

    “Someone get this C grade “has been” model @OmarIffat off my case. May the excessive lip filler causing her mouth to look like a giant balloon help her to float off into the sunset, far away from civilised society where she doesn’t belong.”

    Iffat Omar retorted:

    “Was not taking to u ugly woman just asked your mad leader to listen to pathetic woman like u so chill and lay of, criticizing my lips you have some nerves woman. I mean just look at u.”

    Twitter users criticised the response to Omar as the incorrect way to respond to someone whose political beliefs are different from yours.

    https://twitter.com/Bubbleskhanum/status/1661801548249169920?s=20
  • Army ahead after winning most gold medals at National Games 2023

    Army ahead after winning most gold medals at National Games 2023

    Pakistan Army has won most gold in the ongoing 34th National Games in Quetta.

    Army is on the top after winning most gold medals. They have won 101 gold medals, 65 silver medals and 29 bronze medals.

    Wapda is on the second spot as they bagged 54 golds, 50 silvers and 43 bronze medals.
    Navy’s team stands third in a row as they have 89 total medals they have won 26 gold medals, 27 silver medals and 36 bronze medals.

    Moreover other teams like Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Higher Education Commission (HEC) are also in the race for gold.

    Pakistan Army has maintained its dominance in the ongoing 34th National Games as they won the National Games shooting competition.

    Army completely dominated the shooting competition as they bagged 17 gold, 14 silver and five bronze medals.

  • Top 7 AI tools every content creator should try

    Top 7 AI tools every content creator should try

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved, revolutionising various aspects of our lives. Chatbots, in particular, have gained immense popularity, providing virtual assistants that can engage in meaningful conversations.

    Whilst ChatGPT is undoubtedly a remarkable AI chatbot, there are several other free alternatives that surpass its capabilities in specific domains. In this article, we will explore seven of the best AI chatbots that offer unique and impressive functionalities.

    Google Bard

    Google Bard is an advanced AI chatbot that combines natural language processing and internet access to provide comprehensive answers, summarise articles, and even generate images. Its ability to leverage vast online resources allows users to obtain accurate and up-to-date information swiftly. Whether you seek answers to complex questions or require an AI-powered image generator, Google Bard delivers exceptional results.

    Vidyo.ai

    Vidyo.ai specialises in converting YouTube videos into short clips with captions and editing options. This AI chatbot streamlines the process of extracting relevant portions from lengthy videos, enabling users to share concise and impactful content. By facilitating video editing and captioning, Vidyo.ai empowers content creators, educators, and marketers to enhance their video-based communication effectively.

    Beat Oven

    For music enthusiasts, Beat Oven is a game-changer. This AI chatbot possesses the ability to generate royalty-free music tailored to the user’s preferences. By analysing the input, Beat Oven can create unique and high-quality compositions, allowing artists, content creators, and even casual users to access a vast library of original soundtracks. The convenience and versatility offered by Beat Oven make it a must-have tool for those in need of background music.

    Scribble Diffusion

    Scribble Diffusion harnesses the power of AI to transform simple scribbles into realistic drawings. This chatbot uses advanced image generation algorithms to convert rough sketches into visually appealing illustrations. Furthermore, Scribble Diffusion can also generate captions for these drawings, making it an excellent tool for artists seeking inspiration or individuals interested in exploring their creative potential.

    Runway.ml

    Runway.ml is an AI chatbot that excels in video editing and object removal. Leveraging state-of-the-art inpainting techniques and other magical tools, this chatbot allows users to edit videos seamlessly. With Runway.ml, unwanted objects or blemishes can be effortlessly removed from footage, enabling content creators and video enthusiasts to enhance the visual quality of their projects.

    Tome

    Tome is a powerful AI chatbot that utilises ChatGPT and DALL-E to create stunning presentations from a single prompt. By combining text generation and image synthesis, Tome can generate slides, infographics, and visual aids that complement the user’s content. This chatbot simplifies the presentation creation process, allowing individuals to convey their ideas effectively and professionally.

    Flair

    Flair.ai is an AI-powered design tool that generates high-end product photography in minutes. It is a cloud-based platform that allows users to create high-quality product images without the need for professional photography equipment or skills.

    Whilst ChatGPT undeniably possesses exceptional conversational abilities, it is essential to recognise the wealth of alternative AI chatbots that excel in specialised domains. From Google Bard’s comprehensive information retrieval to Beat Oven’s music generation capabilities, each of these chatbots offers unique functionalities that can cater to specific user needs.

  • Quratulain Baloch, Hassan and Roshaan set to release music video for ‘Bandhan’

    After the success of ‘Duur Se’, pop songwriting duo Hassan and Roshaan are set to release the video of their song ‘Bandhaan’ which features Quratulain Baloch. The video is set to release today, and will be directed by Saad Yratta from Yratta Media, who was also the director of ‘Sukoon’ featuring Shae Gill.

    Speaking on the collaboration with the ‘Humsafar’ star, Hassan Sheikh from the singing duo said:

    “We are thrilled about this collaboration with Quratulain Balouch, whose unique sound has been a true inspiration to us. Sharing the screen with her is an exhilarating experience.”

    Yratta, who had previously been a wedding cinematographer, expressed his excitement about the project, stating:

    “It is always fascinating to witness how people interpret visuals and reflect ongoing real-world conversations through abstract works of art. Similar to our previous collaboration, this video will be open to interpretation, allowing the artists to truly shine through.”

    The music video will also feature Ahmed Randhawa, who is known for his role as Behram in the Hum TV drama ‘Agar’, as well as the actor and model Waqar Ali Zulfiqar, who starred in Ali Sethi’s ‘Chandni Raat’ music video.
    An ensemble of performers from the LUMS Dance Society, will also be gracing their pressence in the video.

  • World Bank commits $213 million for Balochistan’s flood recovery and climate resilience

    World Bank commits $213 million for Balochistan’s flood recovery and climate resilience

    The Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank has granted $213 million in funding to Balochistan for the purpose of improving livelihoods, essential services, and risk protection in communities that were affected by the devastating floods in 2022.

    This financial assistance is part of a larger program established in collaboration with the government to address the aftermath of the floods and build a climate-resilient Pakistan.

    Najy Benhassine, the World Bank Country Director for Pakistan, expressed the organization’s commitment to closely cooperate with the Government of Balochistan in supporting the affected communities. The World Bank aims to provide livelihood support and rehabilitate irrigation and flood protection infrastructure.

    These efforts will not only restore the livelihoods of the affected population but also enhance their resilience to potential future climate-related disasters and natural hazards. The project aligns with the comprehensive package of post-flood rehabilitation and resilient reconstruction program agreed upon with the authorities.

    The floods of the previous year were a result of record monsoon rains in the southern and southwestern regions of Pakistan, compounded by glacial melt in the northern areas. The calamity affected nearly 33 million people in the country, which has a population of 220 million. Tragically, the floods claimed over 1,700 lives and caused substantial damage to homes, crops, bridges, roads, and livestock.

    The Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation Project (IFRAP) outlined by the World Bank will provide housing reconstruction grants to approximately 35,100 homeowners. It will also focus on restoring essential services by rehabilitating damaged community infrastructure and facilities, such as water supply systems, irrigation networks, roads, and community facilities.

    Balochistan, with its geographical location, socioeconomic background, and vulnerability to climate change, faces significant risks from natural disasters. Yoro Sidibe, a Senior Water Specialist at the World Bank, emphasized that the project aims to provide economic opportunities to the affected communities while ensuring social inclusion and participation. Additionally, it will enhance institutional capacity for preparedness and response to future disasters.

    The World Bank expects that the Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation Project will benefit approximately 2.7 million people in selected communities across Balochistan’s calamity-declared districts. The project’s objectives include the restoration of degraded watersheds and the strengthening of institutional capacity at both the provincial and local levels.

  • ‘Not apologising for the person I become when this releases’: Twitter delighted with new ‘Barbie’ trailer

    Warner Bros unleashed chaos with the new trailer of ‘Barbie’ and yes, Twitter lost it’s marbles.

    Directed and written by Greta Gerwig and her partner Noah Baumbach, the second trailer finally gave us the complete story that maybe, life isn’t always fantastic.

    Played by Margot Robbie, Barbie has an existentialist crisis which compels her to go to the real world in order to learn more about herself.

    https://twitter.com/PopBase/status/1661764247175700480?s=20

    It has been just a few hours since the trailer released, but fans of the long anticipated movie are already shaking, crying, throwing up, gearing up to do anything to book their cinema seats to watch ‘Barbie’.

    The film also announced the artists who would be featuring on the final ‘Barbie’ soundtrack, which included Ice Spice, Dua Lipa, and Nicki Minaj who will be performing a new version of ‘Barbie’.

  • Not all trials related to May 9 will take place in military courts: Rana Sanaullah

    Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that a total of 499 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed regarding the 9 May incidents. “Out of these, 88 FIRs were registered under the Terrorist Act, while the remaining 411 FIRs were filed for other offenses,” he stated while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.

    The minister added that 19 people from Punjab and 14 from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) will be tried in military courts. “These people trespassed and entered sensitive defence installations, so the question is how did they manage to get there,” he said.

    However, the minister clarified that not all trials will take place in military courts.

    “A rumour is circulating that all trials will take place in military courts but that is not true. The military will investigate the case but not take cognisance of it. They will see whether the Army Act or the Official Secrets Act is applicable or not.”

    While criticising former PM Imran Khan, Sanaullah said, “If Imran is left unchecked, he can lead the nation towards a disaster.”