Category: Uncategorized

Monkeypox outbreak primarily spreading through sex: WHO officials

Monkeypox, a potentially fatal disease that has seen an alarming surge in cases in North America and Europe over the last three weeks, can be spread through close contact. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the most recent surge in cases appears to have been spread among men who have sex with other men, emphasising that anyone can contract monkeypox.

“While the virus itself is not a sexually transmitted infection, which are generally spread through semen and vaginal fluids, the most recent surge in cases appears to have been spread among men who have sex with other men,” said WHO officials.

“Many diseases can be spread through sexual contact. You could get a cough or a cold through sexual contact, but it doesn’t mean that it’s a sexually transmitted disease,” said Andy Seale, a strategic advisor with WHO’s HIV, hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections programme.

Read more- Monkeypox outbreak primarily spreading through sex: WHO officials

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, monkeypox is a disease caused by a virus that is related to smallpox but is less severe. According to findings in Africa, monkeypox can kill up to 1 in 10 people who develop the disease.

May 24, 2022
PIA Hajj operations to start May 31

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will begin Hajj operations, with 297 flights to Jeddah and Madinah departing from eight cities from May 31.

A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Aviation Khawaja Saad Rafique, he was briefed by the national flag-carrier’s administration on important matters.

According to the federal minister, the state airline will start Hajj operations on May 31 as planned, with flights to Jeddah and Madinah departing from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Multan, Peshawar, and Quetta.

The national flag-carrier’s administration said that 297 flights will operate from May 31 to August 31.

The leadership of the state airline announced the addition of four Airbus 320 aircraft to its fleet. One plane arrived in Pakistan last week and is currently being processed by Pakistan Customs and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), while a second plane is expected to arrive by the end of the month.

May 24, 2022
SBP hikes interest rate by 150 basis points to control inflation

The State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) approved a 150 basis point increase in the benchmark interest rate, pushing it to 13.75 per cent to control inflation.

It is worth noting that this is the maximum level of interest rate since 2011 when it was 14 per cent.

The central bank mentioned in a statement that after the last MPC meeting, preliminary estimates indicate that growth in FY22 has been considerably higher than predicted.

1/3 At today’s meeting, MPC decided to raise policy rate by 150bps to 13.75%. This action, together with much needed fiscal consolidation, should help moderate demand to more sustainable pace while keeping inflation expectations anchored & containing risks to external stability.

— SBP (@StateBank_Pak) May 23, 2022

On May 23, the MPC agreed to hike the policy rate by 150 basis points to 13.75 per cent. “This action, together with much needed fiscal consolidation, should help moderate demand to a more sustainable pace while keeping inflation expectations anchored and containing risks to external stability.

“External pressures remain elevated and the inflation outlook has deteriorated due to both home-grown and international factors. Domestically, an expansionary fiscal stance this year, exacerbated by the recent energy subsidy package, has fueled demand and lingering policy uncertainty has compounded pressures on the exchange rate”.

“Globally, inflation has intensified due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and renewed supply disruptions caused by the new Covid wave in China. As a result, almost all central banks across the world are suddenly confronting multi-year high inflation and a challenging outlook.”

The MPC stated that raising interest rates will help to protect external and economic stability.

“Since the last MPC meeting, secondary market yields, benchmark rates and cut-off rates in the government’s auctions have risen, particularly at the short end. The MPC noted that the market rates should be aligned with the policy rate and in case of any misalignment after today’s policy decision, the SBP would take appropriate action”.

According to the report, overall inflation climbed from 12.7 per cent (year on year) in March to 13.4 per cent in April, led by consumable food products and core inflation. “The rise in core inflation reflects strong domestic demand and second-round effects of supply shocks,” it noted.

The MPC believes that when power and fuel subsidies are phased out, inflation will spike momentarily and remain strong through FY23 before falling steeply in FY24. “This baseline outlook is subject to risks from the path of global commodity prices and the domestic fiscal policy stance,” it said.

May 23, 2022
Bus drivers’ race? Two buses collide, killing eight people in Murree

On Monday, a coaster crashed into a ditch at Khaira Gali on Galyat Road in Murree, killing at least eight people and injuring several others according to media reports.

According to an eyewitness, both bus drivers were racing and the two buses crashed due to their high speeds. As soon as the tragedy was reported, a huge number of residents raced to the scene and began self-rescue efforts, while rescue and police units arrived shortly after.

He further stated that 12 persons have been transferred to the Tehsil Headquarter Hospital in Murree, while eight bodies have been exhumed, and the death toll is expected to grow.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz has expressed sadness for the loss of life in the Murree traffic tragedy and has ordered a report.

May 23, 2022
Imran Khan makes party decisions based on Bushra Bibi’s dreams: Awn Chaudhry

Former adviser and very close friend to ousted Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, Awn Chaudhry revealed the reason for not attending the oath ceremony of the former premier, saying that he was stopped from attending Khan’s oath-taking after ‘somebody dreamt about it’ at Bani Gala.

“When I was informed about it by Imran Khan himself through a message before the night of the oath-taking, that someone has seen a dream and I cannot attend the oath-taking ceremony, I was hurt badly and thought was this the reward for my hard work? He sent the message at 2am and I have saved it on my phone. It is strange that decisions were made in the party on the basis of dreams,” Awn said.

Aun opened up about the issue while talking to Geo News programme ‘Jirga’s’ host Saleem Safi. Chaudhry said that he had Khan’s message saved and can show it anytime he asks for it.

Safi asked if the person whom Awn is mentioning in relevance to dreams was the first lady, Bushra Bibi. To this Awn said, “Everyone knows who is associated with such dreams and the implementation of work done because of these dreams.”

Anchorperson Safi reminded Chaudhry that Chaudhry was the one who made Khan meet Bushra Bibi and that Khan got married six months before becoming prime minister. So the question is why was not Awn Chaudhry distanced from Khan earlier? To which Chaudhry responded, “I cannot say what the plan was but now it’s pretty clear. Had I committed something wrong, I am sure Khan Saab would have said it to everyone within three seconds. My wrong was my loyalty to Khan Saab. Had my loyalties been somewhere else I would still be there.”

“I am grateful to the Almighty that he showed me the mirror. These people are not the ones to show loyalty to. I was the hindrance between a lot of things. A gang has come in front of Pakistan. The ones who called the shots and did the work in the country. This is the very gang that used to run Punjab. The gang includes the first lady’s friend Farah, Farah Gogi, Ahsan Jameel Gujjar, and then there was another gift which they presented in the face of Usman Buzdar. This was a planned conspiracy,” said Chaudhry.

“I came to Khan Saab and said that you have committed a blunder. I complained that you have given Punjab to such an incompetent man [Usman Buzdar]. The reward i got saying this was, I was taken out of the Punjab cabinet within a week,” revealed Chaudhry.

He said FIRs were lodged against Jahangir Tareen and his children while Tareen helped Imran Khan form governments in the Centre and Punjab. “Tareen allowed Imran Khan to use his plane and bore expenses of party meetings and offices, including Imran Khan’s sit-in at Islamabad. Imran Khan also leveled false allegations against Aleem Khan over his housing society. If he was so notorious, why had you accepted him to your party?” he asked.

Chaudhry said Shehzad Akbar had set up private cells to investigate Tareen after a commission was set up to investigate the sugar crisis. “Tareen also supported Principal Secretary to PM Azam Khan but he asked Imran Khan to form a commission against Tareen,” he added.

Awn Chaudhry alleged that Prime Imran Khan had phoned for closing NAB cases against many people close to him. “The truth will come forth if an inquiry is held,” he added.

Chaudhry said that the PTI chairman had not appointed Pervez Khattak as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister for the second time because he thought he did not obey him as he desired. He said Mehmood Khan had been appointed KP CM because he was a weak person. “Khattak has a political vision and he would have benefited the party better but he was criticised in party meetings,” he added.

May 23, 2022
PPP’s Gilani becomes leader of house in Senate

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senior leader and former Prime Minister (PM) Yusuf Raza Gilani has taken charge as the leader of the House in the Senate today (Monday).

Earlier, Gilani contested for the slot of Senate chairman against Sadiq Sanjrani but lost. Gilani has been appointed to fill the slot by the current PM Shehbaz Sharif. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Senator Dr Shehzad Waseem will now become the leader of the Opposition.

The National Assembly (NA) session has resumed today and it has been indicated that a resolution of condemnation against PTI Chairman Imran Khan for using obnoxious language against Maryam Nawaz in his Multan rally would be tabled in the two houses separately by women lawmakers.

According to The News that PM Shehbaz Sharif will avail the sitting of the upper house to make an important policy statement on the political and economic situation in the country.

In January, Gilani stepped down as the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate after his absence led to the passage of the State Bank (Amendment) Bill, 2021, in the Upper House of Parliament.

May 23, 2022
Coalition partners finally decide to complete govt term

The coalition partners have decided that the present government will go ahead with the completion of its term instead of early elections in the country, reports Geo News.

The decision comes after a meeting of the heads of the ruling alliance today (Monday). The allied parties’ heads met to discuss the political situation in the country after the announcement of a long march towards Islamabad by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on May 25.

As per the news outlet, the government has also decided to take tough decisions in a bid to steer the country out of an economic crisis. As Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has left for Doha, Qatar, for talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the tough measures will reportedly be taken in a couple of days.

The Shehbaz Sharif government has stated that it needs support from “all sides” to take tough decisions in order to revive the economy.

May 23, 2022
PM rules out the removal of fuel, energy subsidies ahead of talks with IMF: Miftah Ismail

Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has once again said the government doesn’t plan to increase the prices of petroleum products. Talking to the media at the Karachi airport, he said that Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif had ruled out the possibility of ending the subsidies.

“It will not happen. I have refused. Shehbaz Sharif sahib has refused. Nawaz Sharif sahib has refused,” said Ismail. “I am assuring you that I will not agree to [the terms] that Shaukat Tarin agreed to.”

He said that according to the deal finalised by former finance minister Shaukat Tarin, Pakistan would have to raise the price of diesel by over Rs150 and petrol by Rs100.

Miftah said that Imran Khan took a loan of Rs20,000 billion, which is 80% of the entire amount of loans taken in 71 years of Pakistan’s history.

He further stated that former planning and development minister Asad Umar caused Pakistan a loss of 9.1%, which was a record loss in 52 years.

“Pakistan exported wheat when we [PML-N] left the government but today the country is importing wheat,” Miftah said.

A team comprising State Bank of Pakistan and Federal Board of Revenue officials, as well as Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr Aisha Ghous Pasha and the finance secretary, are already in Doha to negotiate with the IMF.

The talks began on May 18. At the time, Ismail had told the IMF that the government understood the current economic crisis and agreed that it would have to take “tough decisions” while mitigating the effects of inflation on middle to low-income groups.

May 23, 2022
Girl kidnapped by ex-fiancé in broad daylight, recovered

After Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti ordered the police to rescue a girl kidnapped in broad daylight from the Shadbagh neighbourhood by Sunday evening, police retrieved her.

The accused was apprehended in Arifwala and the girl was found. The victim, a 10th-grade student, was riding back home after taking the exam, with her brother when the motorcycle was hit by a car. Two armed men exited the vehicle, one grabbing the girl’s hand and forcing her inside the vehicle, while the other man aimed his rifle at her brother, preventing him from resisting. The kidnappers drove away after abducting the teenager.

The LHC chief justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti took notice of the event and instructed the IG Punjab to rescue the woman and present her in court. In connection with the case, the IGP, the CCPO, and other senior officers appeared before the Chief Justice on Sunday, promising to rescue the girl before the deadline.

Kidnapper Abid was the girl’s ex-fiance, according to the CCPO Lahore. The perpetrator kidnapped the victim because he was bitter about the end of their engagement. The kidnappers promptly turned off their cellphones following the event. The girl was rescued from Arifwala and the culprits were apprehended after the IG enlisted the help of the IB and CTD.

May 23, 2022
When Sanjay Dutt hit Shah Rukh Khan for ignoring a senior actor

A news story is resurfacing in Indian media about a brawl between Bollywood actors Sanjay Dutt and Shah Rukh Khan, which became physical.

It happened at the Mehboob Studios in late 1990s, when the entire industry had taken out a protest against the Stardust magazine.

It was led by Amjad Khan even though he was very sick and could not even walk, but he was the president of the Cine Artists Association. Khan had just gained popularity but had not joined the morcha and was shooting in the same Studio. He walked down the makeup room and walked past Amjad Khan without even acknowledging him and when Sanjay saw that, he lost his temper and ran after Shah Rukh and held him by his neck, but some friends helped in the scene not turning ugly.

Recently in an interview, the KGF 2 star has revealed how difficult it was to bounce back from addiction, and how poorly he was treated after his stint in rehab.

In a chat with YouTuber Ranveer Allahabadia, he said that doing drugs was the ‘cool’ thing at the time. On how he ‘bounced back’, he said, “I had to make up my mind. What happens when you’re into intense drug addiction, you become a loner. I had become like that. I was a hard nut to crack, and I was at the rehab center for two years, which is rare. I couldn’t just accept that I was a drug addict.”

However, when he experienced fun activities with other patients at the rehab centre, he realised that he had missed out on a lot. “This is what life is, why was I missing that. Ten years of my life I was in my room, or in the bathroom, and not interested in shoots. But this is what life is, and that’s how everything changed.”

Talking about how he bounced back, he said, “When I came back, people used to call me charsi. And I thought, galat hai yeh. People on the road are saying this. Kuch karna padega. So I started working out. I wanted to break though that. And then from charsi, it became a guy with swag and ‘kya body hai’.”

On the work front, Sanjay will be seen next in Shamshera costarring Ranbir Kapoor and Vaani Kapoor.

May 23, 2022