Tag: United Kingdom (UK)

  • Shehbaz, Nawaz to meet for three hours in London

    Shehbaz, Nawaz to meet for three hours in London

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif is set to leave for a two-day visit to the United Kingdom (UK) on Sunday, September 18, during which he will represent Pakistan at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and meet Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif.

    The premier is scheduled to have a three-hour-long meeting with his elder brother, Nawaz Sharif, in London.

    According to news reports, PM Shehbaz will return to Pakistan on Monday soon after attending the state funeral for the late Queen — who died at the age of 96 on September 8 at her Balmoral Castle residence.

    It is pertinent to mention here that senior analyst Suhail Warraich had recsbtly revealed that Nawaz Sharif is not satisfied with the performance of his brother Shehbaz Sharif or Finance Minister Miftah Ismail. Warraich said Nawaz wants Shehbaz to review his policies.

    “Nawaz had already said that they should not take over the government and move towards elections. It seems like he [Nawaz Sharif] has made up his mind that he wants economic policies reviewed, and he would want Ishaq Dar to manage it. He [Nawaz Sharif] does not trust Miftah Sahib,” said Warraich on Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’.

  • Apple honours Queen Elizabeth II by removing iPhone 14 from homepage of its official website

    Apple honours Queen Elizabeth II by removing iPhone 14 from homepage of its official website

    On Thursday, Apple changed the homepage in memory of Queen Elizabeth II. The Cupertino-based tech giant has added her photo and a tribute statement to its homepage in memory of her.

    Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, also offered his condolences to the citizens of the UK and the Commonwealth.

    The longest reign of any British monarch was that of Queen Elizabeth II, who ruled for 70 years. She passed away at the age of 96.

    Here’s how Apple’s landing page currently appears:

    Apple.com landing page

    Importantly, Apple just announced the iPhone 14 series one day before Queen Elizabeth II passed away, and all of the new products were displayed on the landing page of the company’s website. However, the Cupertino-based technology company immediately updated the home page and included a photo of Queen Elizabeth II.

    Read more: Here are the official prices of all iPhone 14 models

    Apple is one of the few tech behemoths to have changed its website, surprisingly at this key moment when the company is promoting its recently announced products, including the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 8 and AirPods Pro 2.

  • FACT CHECK: Did a UK couple name their baby ‘Pakora’ for real?

    FACT CHECK: Did a UK couple name their baby ‘Pakora’ for real?

    Claim: A couple in the United Kingdom named their baby ‘Pakora’.

    Fact: No, the couple did not name their baby Pakora. The incident was a joke made by the owner of a restaurant.

    News reports have been making rounds on social media about a UK couple naming their baby after the desi fried snack Pakora (fritters). The unusual news is being widely talked about on social media, generating a lot of mirth and decisive views.

    The Captain’s Table, a restaurant in Newtownabbey, Ireland, took to Facebook to share the news. The eatery shared the receipt of an order placed by the UK couple and also a picture of the baby girl born on August 24.

    “My wife has just called our newborn daughter Pakora after her fav dish from The Captain’s Table,” read the note.

    However, the owner of the restaurant, Hilary Braniff, later clarified that the post was only a joke. She made the story up to “bring a little cheer to the industry” which is reeling under the rising costs and increasing energy bills.

    Braniff claimed that she just wanted to share the post and brighten up people’s day.

    The girl in the picture is the granddaughter of the restaurant owner, and her name is Grace. “I just thought I would do a post – my two favourite things in the world are chicken pakora and my baby granddaughter. I thought I would combine the two things for a bit of fun really,” she said.

  • Here’s how Pakistani students can apply for Chevening scholarship

    Here’s how Pakistani students can apply for Chevening scholarship

    The application period for the UK government’s prestigious Chevening scholarship for the 2023-24 academic year has started. The programme covers the entire cost of a one-year master’s degree at any UK university, and this is why it is very competitive.

    Here is all the information about the scholarship you need:
    What does the scholarship cover?
    • University tuition fees
    • A monthly stipend
    • Travel costs to and from the UK
    • An arrival allowance
    • A homeward departure allowance
    • The cost of one visa application
    • A travel grant to attend Chevening events in the UK
    Eligibility criteria:
    • Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory
    • Return to your country of citizenship for a minimum of two years after your award has ended
    • Have completed all components of an undergraduate degree that will enable you to gain entry onto a postgraduate programme at a UK university by the time you submit your application. This is typically equivalent to an upper second-class 2:1 honours degree in the UK but may be different depending on your course and university choice
    • Have at least two years (equivalent to 2,800 hours) of work experience
    • Apply to three different eligible UK university courses and have received an unconditional offer from one of these choices by July 13, 2023
    You are not eligible for a Chevening scholarship if you:
    • Hold British or dual British citizenship (unless you are a citizen of a British Overseas Territory or hold BN(O) and are applying from Hong Kong)
    • Hold refugee status in a non-Chevening eligible country. Applicants who are citizens of a Chevening-eligible country and who hold refugee status in a Chevening-eligible country are eligible for a scholarship
    • Employees, former employees, or relatives* of an employee of Chevening Partner organisations are eligible to apply, but if the employment took place within the last two years, you cannot receive a Chevening Partner Award from the organisation from which you work, previously worked, or are affiliated with through relatives
    • Have previously studied in the UK with funding from a UK Government-funded scholarship
    How to apply?
    • Select three courses at three different universities. You can choose any Chevening-eligible course at any UK university
    • You are required to submit the names of two referees
    • All Chevening applicants must submit their education documents, references, and one unconditional UK university offer
    • The deadlines for these required documents are in the Chevening application timeline

    Since 1983, more than 2,000 Pakistanis have had the opportunity to study in the UK through Chevening.

  • After five days of losses, British stocks holding firm

    After five days of losses, British stocks holding firm

    A day after economic slowdown fears dragged the major British stocks to their sixth straight session of losses, UK equities stabilised on Tuesday, with some positive momentum from financial sectors and some excellent earnings announcements.

    By 0712 GMT, the FTSE 100 had up 0.6 per cent, with shares in British bank HSBC up 2.6 per cent providing the biggest boost to the blue-chip index.

    Following volatile crude prices, oil majors BP Plc and Shell Plc climbed 1.5 per cent and 0.8 per cent, respectively.

    After finishing at its weakest level in more than three months on Monday, the domestically focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index gained 0.7 per cent. Paragon Banking increased by 4.7 per cent after raising its expectations for 2022 and indicating robust new lending growth.

    FirstGroup jumped 1.2 per cent when the transportation company reported a higher yearly profit and restarted dividend payments, as passenger numbers on its buses increased after COVID-19 limitations were relaxed.

    Crest Nicholson rose 6.1 per cent after projecting an adjusted profit before tax of between 135 and 140 million pounds for fiscal year 2022. In 2021, the housebuilder made an adjusted profit of 107.2 million pounds.

  • Disguised as security officials, robbers loot foreigners

    Disguised as security officials, robbers loot foreigners

    Street crime in Karachi has increased manifold in recent months. A foreigner who was visiting Pakistan to attend a marriage ceremony was robbed at Sea View, ARY News reports.

    According to details, an FIR has been registered against this incident in Karachi. As per news reports, two suspects used to follow foreigners to rob them after identifying themselves as law enforcers.

    “While they were on their way home, they were intercepted by a white vehicle by men posing as cops, erecting a barricade,” said the complainant. “In the guise of checking, the robbers took the money from them and ran away,” added the complainant whose son-in-law and friend were visiting Pakistan from the United Kingdom (UK).

    Police arrested a few members of the notorious gang. They also recovered looted foreign and local currencies, expensive items including laptops and mobile phones, fake number plates, police uniforms, wireless sets and weapons used in various crimes.

    Police are on the hunt for other members of the group as further investigation is underway.