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  • Brazilian swimmer accuses administration of harassment after getting expelled from Olympics

    Brazilian swimmer accuses administration of harassment after getting expelled from Olympics

    Brazilian swimmer Ana Carolina Vieira has accused the Olympic administration of harassment after being expelled from the ongoing games.

    Brazil’s Olympic committee decided to repatriate 22-year-old Ana after the swimmer spent a night out with her friend Gabriel Santos, and posting pictures of herself with her boyfriend enjoying the weather outside the Olympic Village.

    The swimmer appeared in tears in a video clip posted on Instagram, expressing her anger at the Brazilian Olympic Committee. She said, “The Olympic Committee ignored my complaints of harassment. I was not even allowed to take my belongings from the Olympic Village and was forced to go to the airport in short clothes.”

    Brazil’s swimming team president, Gustavo Otsuka, said, “We came to Paris to play for the 200 million Brazilians who pay taxes; we’re not here to have fun and have a vacation.”

    According to the rules, players are not allowed to leave the Olympic Village.

  • Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh killed in targeted attack in Iran

    Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh killed in targeted attack in Iran

    Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Palestinian resistance organization Hamas, has been killed in an Israeli attack in Tehran, the capital of Iran.

    According to foreign media reports, Hamas has confirmed Haniyeh’s death in Tehran, where he had gone to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the Iranian president.

    Hamas has stated that those responsible for the attack on the head of Hamas will be punished.

    A missile was fired around 2:00 pm (Israeli time) in Tehran, where Ismail Haniyeh was with his bodyguard, Israeli media has reported.

    Ismail participated in the Gaza ceasefire talks as a negotiator and was appointed as the head of Hamas in 2017. He lived in Turkey and Qatar to avoid travel restrictions in Gaza.

  • Nada Hafez, a seven month-pregnant Egyptian athlete at the Olympics

    Nada Hafez, a seven month-pregnant Egyptian athlete at the Olympics

    Nada Hafez, who represented Egypt in fencing events at the Paris Olympics, has revealed that she is seven months pregnant. She defeated her American opponent in the first match but lost to a South Korean player in the round of 16.

    She revealed on Instagram, saying, “What appears to you as two players on the podium, they were three! It was me, my competitor, & my yet-to-come to our world, baby. My baby & I had our fair share of challenges, be it both physical & emotional. The rollercoaster of pregnancy is tough on its own, but fighting to keep the balance of life & sports was nothing short of strenuous; however, it was worth it. This specific Olympics was different; Three times Olympian but this time carrying a little Olympian one!”

    Nada, who is participating in the Olympics for the third time, says that she is lucky to have the trust of her husband and family, which has enabled her to reach this far.

    She is an inspiration, her determination and dedication are truly admirable.

  • Khalil ur Rehman Qamar’s alleged sex tape leaked

    Khalil ur Rehman Qamar’s alleged sex tape leaked

    A video allegedly showing controversial writer Khalil ur Rehman Qamar getting intimate with the woman who orchestrated his kidnapping has popped up on social media.

    A man who looks like Qamar can be seen in the video talking to a woman while both are seated very close together on a double-seated sofa. He is also smoking.

    A short while later, he is seen without a shirt, kissing the woman. The video cuts off at that point.

    The video came out just as Hassan Shah, the mastermind of the honey trap that resulted in the writer’s kidnapping for ransom was arrested. In an interview, the then unknown man had threatened that he will release the videos he has.

    The video is in clear contradiction of the misogynistic writer’s account of what happened that night. He said in a police press conference that he went to the woman’s house at 4:40 am “to discuss a drama project”. When asked by a reporter about why he went that late to an unknown woman’s house, he said that he had been advised by his doctor to avoid sunlight for five years.

  • Pakistan experiences highest dollar outflow since FY18 amid economic adjustments

    Pakistan experiences highest dollar outflow since FY18 amid economic adjustments

    Pakistan, grappling with a shortage of US dollars, has seen a significant outflow of foreign exchange as international investors repatriated dividends and profits at unprecedented levels.

    In fiscal year 2024 (FY24), foreign investors withdrew $2.2 billion, the highest outflow since the $2.3 billion withdrawn six years ago. This surge, representing a dramatic 569.2 per cent year-on-year increase, is primarily due to a low base in FY23.

    The country’s foreign exchange reserves were critically low in FY23, prompting the government to impose restrictions on dollar outflows to avoid a potential default. Consequently, repatriations fell sharply to $331 million, an 80.3 per cent decrease from FY22, marking one of the lowest figures on record.

    A pivotal change occurred in June 2023 when Pakistan reached a Staff Level Agreement (SLA) worth $3 billion with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    The agreement mandated the removal of capital controls and a shift towards a more functional foreign exchange market. This move, driven by foreign pressure and the IMF’s conditions, resulted in the lifting of these restrictions, leading to a substantial increase in outflows in FY24.

    In particular, May 2024 set a record with the highest monthly outward remittance of $918.1 million.

    Notably, the outflow for the year exceeded the total foreign investment of $1.52 billion. Key sectors contributing to this outflow included Financial Business, Power, and Communications, with the Financial Business sector repatriating the most at $638.6 million.

    Among the countries, the United Kingdom led with $558.57 million in repatriated profits, a substantial increase from $20.14 million the previous fiscal year. The UAE and Netherlands followed in repatriation figures.

    Despite the significant outflow, there is an optimistic outlook for Pakistan’s economy. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has confirmed that there are no outstanding profit repatriation payments, alleviating concerns of foreign companies and potentially attracting new investors. The recent Fitch rating upgrade further supports the country’s economic stability.

    On a positive note, Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves saw a 110 per cent increase, reaching $4.92 billion in FY24.

    However, JPMorgan has cautioned that unresolved dividend backlog issues might impact the PKR in the short term. Addressing these could improve transparency and enhance the attractiveness of Pakistan as an investment destination.

  • ‘If you find queer storylines distasteful, do not watch my content’: Asim Abbasi refuses to censor ‘Barzakh’

    ‘If you find queer storylines distasteful, do not watch my content’: Asim Abbasi refuses to censor ‘Barzakh’

    Director Asim Abbasi sent a clear message to the critics of his web series ‘Barzakh’.
    Asim Abbasi shared a picture of the show on his Instagram story, where a person replied saying, “Please don’t add more to the fire by saying he ‘chose’ Saifu. They’re asking to boycott the show, and you’re giving them more reasons to so it. Glorifying these characters in the name of art is distasteful. It was wrong churails, its wrong here.” 

     
    On which Asim Abbasi, who is also the writer of Barzakh, replied, “With all due respect, if you find queer non-heteronormative storylines distasteful please do not watch my content.”
    Fawad Khan is playing the characters Saifullah and Lorenzo. The statement comes in response to a scene in episode 3 featuring an almost kissing moment between two male characters.
     
    Asim Abbasi tagged the producers of web series with the caption on his story, “Shailja Kejriwal Waqas Ali and I will always champion rights of all, and tell stories that we believe in.”
     
    The main plot of Barzakh is to explore the mysteries of life, the afterlife, and the enduring power of love. Set in the beautiful Hunza Valley, the story follows a 76-year-old recluse who invites his estranged children and grandchildren to his remote valley resort for a special event his wedding to the ghost of his first true love.

  • Pakistan’s fiscal deficit falls to 6.8% of GDP in FY24

    Pakistan’s fiscal deficit falls to 6.8% of GDP in FY24

    In the fiscal year 2023-2024, Pakistan’s fiscal deficit decreased to 6.8 per cent of GDP, down from 7.7 per cent the previous year, according to data from the Finance Ministry.

    In nominal terms, however, the fiscal deficit expanded to Rs7.21 trillion, up from Rs6.52 trillion the year before. Despite this, the country achieved a primary surplus of Rs952.92 billion, equivalent to 0.9 per cent of GDP, in contrast to a primary deficit of Rs825.53 billion, or 1.0 per cent of GDP, in FY23.

    To address the fiscal deficit, the government secured Rs6.89 trillion through domestic borrowing and an additional Rs320.7 billion through external loans. This compares to the previous year when the entire deficit was covered by Rs7.2 trillion in domestic borrowing, and Rs679.85 billion in external loans were repaid.

    On the revenue side, the government collected Rs13.27 trillion (12.5 per cent of GDP) in FY24, up from Rs9.63 trillion (11.4 per cent of GDP) in FY23. Tax revenue constituted approximately Rs10.1 trillion (9.5 per cent of total revenue), while non-tax revenue amounted to Rs3.18 trillion.

    Government expenditure totalled Rs20.48 trillion (19.3 per cent of GDP) in FY24, an increase from Rs16.15 trillion (19.1 per cent of GDP) the previous year.

    Nearly 90.7 per cent of this expenditure, or Rs18.57 trillion, was allocated to current expenditures, which included mark-up payments (Rs8.16 trillion), defence (Rs1.86 trillion), and pensions (Rs807.8 billion).

  • Must-Laugh: The top five comedy K-dramas on Netflix

    Must-Laugh: The top five comedy K-dramas on Netflix

    Looking for a good laugh? Check out these five hilarious K-dramas on Netflix that will keep you entertained. From witty characters to funny situations, these shows are a must-watch!

    Chicken Nugget

    Choi Min-ah, a young woman, is turned into a chicken nugget in a bizarre accident. Her father, Seon-man, and her admirer, Go Baek-joong, embark on a mission to understand the machine that caused this transformation and find a way to bring her back to human form. The series blends humor with heartfelt moments as they navigate through corporate hurdles, personal dreams, and odd challenges. Despite some slow episodes, ‘Chicken Nugget’ offers a mix of parody, comedy, and touching emotions. Now available to stream on Netflix in hindi.

    Trailer:

    King The Land

    ‘King The Land’ is another great Korean drama to watch in Hindi on Netflix. Released in June 2023, it even topped Netflix’s global non-English viewing rankings. According to Netflix, the story is about a charming heir in a tense inheritance battle who clashes with his hardworking employee known for her irresistible smile, which he can’t stand. The drama is praised for its beautiful story, excellent cast, stunning cinematography, original soundtracks, and comedy scenes.

    Trailer:

    True Beauty

    Adapted from the popular webtoon, ‘True Beauty’ by Yaongyi, this K-drama tells the story of a high school girl who learns makeup to hide her insecurities. According to IMDb, the plot revolves around a girl who, after being bullied for her looks, transforms into a beautiful “goddess” using online makeup tutorials and quickly becomes popular. When she meets the most popular boy in school and her childhood friend, who secretly likes her, her life changes in unexpected ways. “True Beauty” is packed with hilarious comedy, touching friendships, and romantic moments.

    Trailer:

    Strong Girl Bong-soon

    ‘Strong Girl Bong-soon’ is about a woman with superhuman strength. Released in February 2017, it became JTBC’s highest-rated drama. According to Netflix, the story follows Bong-soon, who uses her strength to fight evil and bring justice while getting involved in a love triangle with her CEO boss and a cop she likes. The drama’s mix of comedy, fantasy, and romance made it a global hit.

    Trailer:

    She Would Never Know

    Adapted from the web novel “Senior, Don’t Put on That Lipstick” by Elise, this romantic comedy follows a dedicated cosmetics brand manager and her younger colleague, who secretly has a crush on her. Netflix describes the plot as a rookie employee at a cosmetics company pursuing his senior co-worker to turn his unrequited crush into a romantic office relationship. ‘She Would Never Know’ offers a fresh take on workplace romance with humor, comedy, romance, and heartfelt moments.

    Trailer:

  • Rajeev Khandelwal speaks out against banning Pakistani actors in India

    Rajeev Khandelwal speaks out against banning Pakistani actors in India

    Rajeev Khandelwal speaks out against banning Pakistani actors in India

    At a time when cross-border collaborations between Indian and Pakistani artists have dwindled down to almost zero, Rajeev Khandelwal, the actor famous for drama Kahin To Hoga, has spoken up against the ban.

    In a recent interview with Bollywood Bubble, Rajeev talked about his experience working with Humayun Saeed’s production and recalled the warm reception he received from Pakistani fans. “The Pakistani audience has always shown me so much love and respect. I remember loving the kind gifts I received and the wonderful conversations.” Khandelwal said.

    He then said, “No artist, whether from Pakistan or anywhere else, should face a ban based on political factors. Such decisions should not dictate the career paths of actors.”

    Rajeev Khandelwal also worked in the Pakistani drama Sun Leyna (2006), which was written by Seema Ghazal and produced by Humayun Saeed.

  • Retired Lt Col Akbar Hussain sentenced to 14 years after court-martial

    Retired Lt Col Akbar Hussain sentenced to 14 years after court-martial

    A retired army officer, Lieutenant Colonel Akbar Hussain, has been court-martialed by a military court after he was found guilty of inciting mutiny among army personnel, which led to his removal from duty.

    The court handed him a sentence of 14 years of rigorous imprisonment on May 10 of this year, while his rank was forfeited on July 26.

    Previously, the infamous PTI-affiliated Major (retd) Adil Farooq Raja and Captain (retd) Haider Raza Mehdi were also court-martialed on charges of sedition and violation of the Official Secrets Act of 1923.

    The court found Adil Farooq Raja and Haider Raza Mehdi guilty on October 7 and October 9, 2023, respectively, following due judicial process. They were sentenced to 14 and 12 years of rigorous imprisonment, respectively, and their ranks were forfeited effective November 21, 2023.