Tag: Manipulation

  • Media agencies claim Kate Middleton’s recent image was manipulated

    Media agencies claim Kate Middleton’s recent image was manipulated

    A recently released image of Kate Middleton, issued by Kensington Palace to put all rumors about her health to rest, has ended up creating new controversies.

    Various news agencies have issued notices not to use the image of Kate and her three children, including the Associated Press (AP), Reuters, Getty Images, and Agence France-Presse (AFP). All three on Sunday night withdrew it and told media outlets to “kill” the photo from their systems and archives because they believe that it has been manipulated.

    The AP said the photo had been withdrawn because upon “closer inspection, it appears that the source had manipulated the image” and the photo showed an “inconsistency in the alignment” of the left hand of Kate’s daughter, Princess Charlotte.

    The AFP said the image could not be used as it had been “altered” without elaborating.

    Reuters said it had deleted the image “following a post-publication review”.

    Kensington Palace did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    The photo was posted on the royal couple’s official X account on Sunday accompanied by a caption thanking the public for their “kind wishes and continued support over the last two months” and wishing the public a Happy Mother’s Day.

    The image was reportedly taken by Kate’s husband, Prince William, during the past week on the grounds of Windsor Castle just outside of London.

    Background

    The release of the image, which remained online on Sunday night despite the withdrawal notices, came after Kensington Palace announced in January that Kate, 42, had been hospitalised for surgery and would take a break from official royal duties until after Easter.

    The lack of details about the reasons for her surgery and her prolonged absence from the public has prompted a plethora of speculation and conspiracy theories about her condition.

    Kate last appeared in public on Christmas Day while attending a church service at the royal family’s Sandringham estate.

    Read more: Kate Middleton appears in public, putting coma rumors to rest

  • Pakistani rupee reverses losses against greenback

    Pakistani rupee reverses losses against greenback

    After strengthening against the US dollar on Monday, the Pakistani rupee started the new week positively.

    Discussions between Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) employees and currency traders had positive effects as the local currency increased by Rs1.59, or 0.72 per cent, versus the dollar.

    In the interbank market, the rupee was able to settle at Rs220.89, according to the SBP.

    The rupee last week dropped 0.93 per cent versus the dollar, trading at Rs222.47. Analysts predicted that this week will see range-bound trading in the local currency.

    Earlier, Ishaq Dar issued a warning last week saying that anyone detected manipulating the currency rate will face harsh punishment.

    Dar said that the rupee’s true worth in relation to the dollar is less than Rs200. He predicted that the rupee will soon strengthen against the dollar and gave a warning to those who were speculating in and hoarding foreign cash.

    Furthermore, the price of Brent oil fell by 0.65 per cent to $95.15 per barrel on Monday, while the price of US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell by 0.83 per cent to $87.17 per barrel. With advances of 7.7 per cent and 9.3 per cent so far in October, respectively, Brent and WTI are on course to post their first monthly gains since May.

    Europe, which is anticipated to experience a recession this winter, poses a threat to global oil consumption. The European Central Bank’s policymakers are also continuing with their plans to raise interest rates, despite the fact that doing so might plunge the region into recession and stoke political unrest.

  • Pakistani rupee gains Rs2 to close at Rs221.94

    Pakistani rupee gains Rs2 to close at Rs221.94

    On Thursday, the Pakistani rupee (PKR) strengthened by Rs2 or 0.90 per cent against the dollar to close at Rs221.94.

    According to the Forex Association of Pakistan (FPA), the local currency was trading at Rs221.75 per $1 at 9:46 am, up 0.98 per cent from yesterday’s close of Rs223.94.

    The rupee has been strengthening since September 22, when it nearly hit an all-time low of Rs239.71. In the last nine sessions, it has increased by Rs15.77 or 6.58 per cent.

    The State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) and finance ministry’s joint investigation into banks making obscene profits from their dollar sales, according to Mettis Global Director Saad bin Naseer, has calmed the interbank market.

    SBP On Tuesday, Governor Jameel Ahmad told a National Assembly committee that eight banks were under investigation for the initial round of currency rate manipulation. In the following stage, the other banks would be looked into.

    He said that a smaller trade deficit in September and the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) pledge of approximately $2.3–2.5 billion in aid were the key reasons for the rupee’s recovery on the open market.

    FAP Chairman Malik Bostan listed the ADB announcement and hopes of a sustained drop in imports as the factors that contributed to the rupee’s rise.