At least 11 terrorists involved in the martyrdom of seven army officials in Lakki Marwat on Sunday, have been killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the same district on June 12.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) released a statement that the IBO was carried out in response to the recent Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion that claimed the lives of seven brave soldiers to bring the perpetrators of the heinous act to justice.
The military’s media wing stated, “During the conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, as a result of which eleven terrorists were successfully neutralised while multiple terrorist hideouts were also busted.”
In recent years, Pakistan has seen a deterioration in the security situation in the country as the Taliban interim government came into power in 2022 in Afghanistan.
A fire ripped through pet shops next to Bangkok’s famed Chatuchak market early Tuesday, killing caged dogs, cats, birds and snakes, and damaging more than 100 stalls, police said.
The fire is believed to have started in the ornamental fish zone in Srisomrat Market, adjacent to the bigger Chatuchak, around 4:00 am (2100 GMT), according to Tivakorn Prongseng, a police inspector investigating the case.
The blaze spread to more than 100 stalls across about 1,300 square metres (14,000 square feet), he told AFP.
There were no reports of human casualties, but multiple caged animals were found dead at the market, which belongs to the State Railway of Thailand, he said.
The fire was extinguished by 6:00 am, and the cause is being investigated, Tivakorn added.
Local media reported that hundreds of pets had died in the fire, but Tivakorn said it was too early to say how many had perished.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has set up a presence at the scene to gather information from affected shop owners.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt visited the site and said people could help affected shop owners by offering to house surviving animals.
Fires have previously damaged sections of the neighbouring, tightly packed Chatuchak market, which sells everything from antiques and electronics to dishwares and food.
The market is a top tourist draw, but also a popular shopping destination for locals.
Conservation groups have previously raised concerns about the sale of live animals in the area, with periodic raids on sellers netting endangered species.
Did you know Pakistan offers the cheapest Netflix subscription in the world?
In a recent report highlighting global Netflix subscription costs, Pakistan stands out as the country with the cheapest monthly fee at just $2.82 (approximately 794 rupees). Netflix subscription fees vary significantly worldwide, ranging from $16.46 to $15.49 in countries like Denmark, Greenland, Ireland, and the US, with Switzerland having the highest monthly rate at $21.48.” Netflix subscription prices vary across different countries due to factors like the economy, market competition, content licensing fees, and currency value changes.
Famous actor Khushhal Khan, known for his roles in movies like ‘Midsummer Chaos’ and ‘Poppay Di Wedding,’ recently shared some exciting news on Instagram. He posted the first poster of his upcoming movie called ‘Crossroads,’ where he stars alongside Mamya Shajaffar.
Directed by Fahad Noor and written by Eric Berg, ‘Crossroads’ is expected to bring something fresh to Pakistan’s film industry. Khan teased fans with bits about the story in his Instagram caption, saying, “Love has no limits, and neither does our tale.”
He added, “Brace yourself for a groundbreaking cinematic experience as we proudly unveil Pakistan’s first vertically shot film series. Immerse yourself in the whirlwind of emotions as Burak and Haya navigate the unpredictable twists and turns of love. With dialogues available in over 20 languages, this is a tale that transcends borders and proves some emotions never die. Stay tuned for a journey like never before.”
Khushhal himself has views on relationships that are just as romantic as the characters he plays. While appearing on a ‘Mazqrat’ show hosted by Imran Ashraf, the young actor shared interesting insights about love, marriage, and his current relationship status.
When asked about one-sided love, Khushhal took a very romantic stance. “It’s a beautiful thing,” he declared. Because you have all the power in that,” he explained. “You create your perception about how that person is. It’s in your mind as a beautiful image. It’s not dependent on the response from the other end. You’re at peace in your mind.”
Intrigued by his perspective on one-sided love, the interviewer asked if Khushhal had ever experienced it himself, either falling for someone or having someone fall for him. His answer surprised some: “No,” he admitted, “I am just in love with my work.” It seems his dedication to his craft currently takes the place of romantic relationships.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered the closure of all restaurants in the National Park of Islamabad, including Monal.
In a case regarding the conservation of the National Park, Supreme Court ordered that all restaurants should be completely closed in three months. It was further instructed that the the affected restaurants should be prioritised if the lease is available elsewhere because commercial activities cannot be allowed in the National Park.
On the other hand, Monal Restaurant voluntarily assured the court that it would move the restaurant in three months.
Today’s hearing
During the hearing of the case Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa instructed that if the restaurant does not move voluntarily, then the Court will order to seal it. The Monal restaurant’s lawyer asked for four months time but the chief justice limited it to three months.
The Court also canceled all the leases given to the restaurants located in the National Park. Additionally, the Chief Justice remarked that commercial activities should be stopped in the National Park areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
When the hearing of the case began, Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa expressed anger at the CDA for submitting a morphed report to the court. He remarked that the senior officers of the CDA will have to take English classes.
While the CDA lawyer defended the report, including Sports Club Pak China Centre, the Chief Justice reprimanded him as he questioned their honesty because the court had asked them to submit a report about restaurants in the area. “CDA has also included the name of Arts Council, National Monument. Can we order the demolition of a National Monument and Sports Complex? Is this the honesty of CDA?” said the court.
The Chief Justice asked if the Supreme Court’s building also falls in the National Park, to which the CDA lawyer replied that he would have to see the map to answer that question.
The Chief Justice said that the world knows how many more restaurants there are with Monal.
“If CDA has its own office in the National Park, then order the demolition of CDA’s office as well,” the court remarked.
The federal Ministry of Interior has decided on Tuesday not to issue passports to Pakistanis who have requested asylum or are already living on asylum in foreign countries, citing security concerns.
The ministry sent a letter to relevant authorities asking them not to issue travel documents to asylum seekers.
According to the ministry’s notification, previously issued passports will be suspended and not renewed.
The Director General Passports issued the notification on Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s directions.
The Foreign Ministry and other relevant authorities have also received copies of the notification.
According to data issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), almost 40,618 Pakistanis applied for asylum in 2022.
Most Pakistani asylum seekers are currently based in Italy, Austria, and Canada.
Some of them are in the United States of America, as almost 1477 individuals fled away from Pakistan to the USA in 2022.
Pakistan was the fifth most represented country, with 5342 immigrants arriving in Europe; however, the number of Pakistani asylum seekers in Greece didn’t increase from 2022 to 2023.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar has told journalists on Tuesday outside Adiala Jail that Imran Khan has given a green signal for talks with the government.
“We told the PTI founder that dialogue is necessary, as distances are widening. He agreed with us [on this],” said Gohar.
Barrister Gohar said that Imran Khan is ready to forgive what has happened to him for the sake of the country.
Gohar emphasised that it would be PTI’s own decision to negotiate when asked if the negotiations would take place with the help of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
He also mentioned that the party will begin negotiations after talking to Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai.
“We have never refused to negotiate. The ice is breaking. We want things to improve,” said Gohar.
PTI founder’s decision to change his rigid stance comes after his interaction with Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa during a hearing in the NAB amendments case a few days ago.
CJP told Khan to go to the parliament as the “country needs to move forward.”
Geo TV’s popular drama serial ‘Tere Bin’ garnered immense global success and fame. Produced by 7th Sky Entertainment, it broke records in popularity and ratings among Pakistani shows. Starring Wahaj Ali and Yumna Zaidi, the drama has amassed over three billion views on YouTube. Additionally, it has been well-received in India and is one of the most-viewed dramas there. Its captivating storyline and compelling performances have earned it a loyal fanbase across borders.
In December 2024, the team behind ‘Tere Bin’ officially announced that Season 2 was on the cards, sharing pictures of Wahaj Ali and Yumna Zaidi. However, fans felt let down because they were hoping for a teaser or trailer for the new drama series. Take a look at the announcement and pictures:
‘Tere Bin’ fans have eagerly awaited news about Season 2, but there have been no updates so far. Wahaj Ali is occupied with shooting his upcoming Geo TV drama alongside Maya Ali, while Yumna Zaidi’s ‘Gentleman’ is currently airing on Green Entertainment, with plans for a new Hum TV drama with Usama Khan.
These updates have left fans wondering about the fate of ‘Tere Bin’ Season 2. Many are concerned about its cancellation. Pakistani Drama Updates shared a post on this topic, sparking discussions about ‘Tere Bin’ Season 2.
According to research by Lago Collective, the United Kingdom and Schengen countries earned millions of pounds and euros by collecting fees from rejected visa applications from Global South countries including Pakistan.
The report revealed that Pakistanis spent £5.3 million on rejected UK visa applications with almost 40 percent of rejected applications in 2023 alone.
In the same year, around 50 percent of Schengen visas from Pakistan were also rejected, with €3.344m spent on applications.
Marta Foresti, co-researcher of the Lago Collective research paper, highlighted, “Visa inequality has very tangible consequences and the world’s poorest pay the price. You can think of the costs of rejected visas as ‘reverse remittances’, money flowing from poor to rich countries.”
According to Foresti, “Visa regimes are not equal or reciprocal,” emphasizing that while European citizens can easily obtain a visa to a third-world country; the situation isn’t similar when any poor country’s citizen tries to obtain a visa to Europe.
Meanwhile, visa application fees are increasing which means an extra burden on those trying to move towards better opportunities abroad.
