Tag: United States of America

  • ‘Ceasefire Now’; Joe Biden’s speech interrupted by pro-Palestinian protestors

    ‘Ceasefire Now’; Joe Biden’s speech interrupted by pro-Palestinian protestors

    American President Joe Biden’s speech at a church in South Carolina was interrupted by chants of “Ceasefire Now” by supporters of the Palestinian cause. The president was there as part of the presidential campaign to woo black voters. This is the same church where a white supremacist shot nine black people in 2015.

    As he was talking about the horrific incident, one protestor got up and said, “If you really care about the lives lost here, then you should honour lives lost and call for a ceasefire in Palestine.” She was then joined by others saying, “Ceasefire Now”. One of them was seen shouting “Blood on your hands” to Biden.

    The President was seen calming the charged crowd by raising a hand and saying, “That’s alright”. As security personnel removed the protesters from the church, he said: “I understand their passion, and I’ve been quietly working, quietly working with the Israeli government to get them to reduce and significantly get out of Gaza.”

    According to the Gaza health ministry, more than 23,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7.

    Biden faced the same situation previously at a human rights’ dinner in Washington DC where pretended to not listen.

  • SBP reports $112 million increase in workers’ remittances

    SBP reports $112 million increase in workers’ remittances

    In September 2023, Pakistan experienced a notable surge in workers’ remittances, marking a 5.3 per cent increase compared to August 2023.

    This uptick can be primarily attributed to a crackdown on the informal money transfer systems known as hawala and hundi.

    According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the country received remittances amounting to $2.206 billion in September 2023, up from $2.094 billion in August 2023, equating to a $112 million rise.

    The majority of remittance inflows for September 2023 were derived from several key sources, with Saudi Arabia contributing $538.2 million, the United Arab Emirates $400 million, the United Kingdom $311.1 million, and the United States of America $263.4 million.

    This increase in remittances can be linked to the fact that a substantial number of Pakistani expatriates resorted to using the Hawala/Hundi channels during the initial two months of the fiscal year, largely due to a significant disparity between official and unofficial exchange rates.

    Subsequently, strict enforcement measures against illegal currency dealers have curbed this volatility, leading to a gradual appreciation of the Pakistani rupee in both the interbank and open currency markets.

    In the last month, the rupee has rebounded by 9 per cent, recovering from its record low of 307.1 against the dollar on September 5. The crackdown on these illicit currency dealers has also contributed to the 5 per cent month-on-month increase in remittances for September.

    However, when examining the entire first quarter of fiscal year FY24, the overall home remittances to Pakistan have experienced a sharp decline of 20 per cent, totalling $1.57 billion. Home remittances for the July-September period of FY24 amounted to $6.33 billion, a decrease from $7.90 billion during the same period in the previous fiscal year, FY23.

    During this initial quarter, remittances from all major sources displayed a downward trajectory. Specifically, home remittances from Saudi Arabia decreased by 22 per cent to $1.516 billion for July–September in FY24, down from $1.946 billion in the equivalent period in FY23.

  • Donald Trump becomes first US president to face criminal charges

    Donald Trump becomes first US president to face criminal charges

    A New York grand jury on Thursday indicted former United States (US) President Donald Trump, over hush money payments made to a porn star.

    Trump became the first ever former US president to face criminal charges.

    The 76-year-old Republican denies all wrongdoing in connection with the payments made ahead of the election that sent him to the White House.

    The former US president survived two impeachment threats and kept prosecutors at bay over charges ranging from the US Capitol riot to missing classified files — only to land in court over a sex scandal involving Stormy Daniels, a 44-year-old adult movie actress.

    Calling his indictment a “political persecution and election interference,” Trump believed that it would backfire on his successor, President Joe Biden, state prosecutors and his Democrat opponents.

    On March 18, Trump had declared he expected to be arrested within days over the payment to Daniels – who received $130,000 weeks before the election that brought Trump to power, to stop her from going public about a tryst she claims they had a decade earlier.

    In predicting his indictment, Trump also issued a call for demonstrations and dark warnings that it could lead to “potential death & destruction” that “could be catastrophic for our Country.”

    Trump, who is seen as the frontrunner for Republican nomination in the 2024 election, has branded all of the investigations political persecution.

    Trump staged his first presidential campaign rally in Texas on Saturday, addressing several thousand supporters — far fewer than the 15,000 he had expected — in the city of Waco, Texas.

    “The innocence of people makes no difference whatsoever to these radical left maniacs,” said Trump.

  • Newark mayor duped into partnership with Hindu country that doesn’t exist

    Newark in New Jersey is gaining viral traction for all the wrong reasons. The town has become the brunt of many a jokes after it was revealed that mayor Ras Baraka had been duped into forming a sister city partnership with a delegation from the ‘country’ Kailasa, which was found out to be fake six days later.

    A signing ceremony was held on March 6 between the delegation from the fake country and city officials of Newark where Baraka had said:

     “I pray that our relationship helps us to understand cultural, social and political development and improves the lives of everybody in both places.”

    Last week, Newark officials admitted that they had been scammed by the Indian fugitive Swami Nithyananda, who was the head of the delegation from ‘Kailasa”, but said they were still committed to partnering with people from diverse cultures:

    “Although this was a regrettable incident, the city of Newark remains committed to partnering with people from diverse cultures in order to enrich each other with connectivity, support and mutual respect.”

    The partnership lasted for only six days, until it was dissolved for baseless.

    The head of Kailasa, Swami Nithyananda, is an Indian guru who is currently charged with rape and child abduction by the Indian government. He has denied the accusations.

    Nithyanananda writes that Kailasa was founded in order to ensure the “restoration, preservation and propagation of authentic Hindu culture and civilization after centuries of oppression and subjugation. It is the home and refuge for the international Hindu diaspora.”

    According to its website, Newark is not the first town to be duped into forming the partnership, as so had Virginia, Ohio and Florida.

    Residents of Newark found the incident to be shocking. Shakee Merritt spoke to CBS that he was suprised no one did a simple Google search on whether the country was real or not.

  • US offers ‘resolute’ support to Pakistan to counter terrorism

    US offers ‘resolute’ support to Pakistan to counter terrorism

    The United States (US) has offered its “resolute” support to Pakistan to counter terrorism while Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari spoke to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

    Antony Blinken tweeted, “I hope for a productive climate conference next month and give my condolences for the lives lost in recent terrorist attacks.”

    Bilawal Bhutto also tweeted about the conversation, writing, “Spoke with @SecBlinken & conveyed gratitude of GoP for USG’s flood assist. of $97 m. Will continue coop. for rebuilding resilient infrastructure in & to further enhance & diversify bilateral relations & to work together for regional peace & stability.”

    Earlier, the US offered to help Pakistan in dealing with threats posed by militant outfits.

    “Well, first, we are aware of the ongoing situation in Pakistan. We’ve been closely following reports that militants have seized control of the counterterrorism centre in Bannu. We offer our deepest sympathies to those injured,” said State Department Spokesperson Ned Price.

  • Pakistan to summon US Ambassador for demarche over Biden’s nukes remark: FM Bilawal

    Pakistan to summon US Ambassador for demarche over Biden’s nukes remark: FM Bilawal

    Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday said that the incumbent government has decided to summon United States (US) Ambassador Donald Blome for an official demarche on US President Joe Biden’s remarks on Pakistan’s nuclear weapons.

    In a press conference at the Bilawal House in Karachi today, he went on to say that Pakistan had nothing to do with Biden’s statement. “We will call their ambassador and issue a demarche, but I don’t think this was an official function […] it wasn’t an address to the parliament or an interview.”

    “It was a fundraiser […] it was an untraditional conversation in which this sentence was used so it should be [looked at] in this manner, I think we will look at this statement in this way,” he elaborated.

    However, at the same time, Bilawal said that the nation should desist from “getting into conspiracy theories”.

    The foreign minister said that Pakistan’s nuclear assets “meet each and every international standard in accordance with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) as far as security and safety is concerned”.

    “Pakistan is adamant about ensuring its integrity and safety. Security questions, if any, should be raised on the nuclear weapons of India that recently fired a missile into Pakistani territory by accident,” he observed. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also stated that, “This is not only irresponsible and unsafe but raises genuine and serious concerns about the safety of nuclear-capable countries,” he pointed out.

    “I am surprised by the remarks of President Biden […] I believe this is exactly the sort of misunderstanding that is created when there is a lack of engagement,” he said.

    Bilawal responds to Khan’s remarks on the government’s failed foreign policy

    Bilawal said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was a liar and it was the government’s responsibility to expose his reality in front of the nation.

    The FM claimed that Khan failed to fulfill any of the promises he made to the people. Bilawal criticised Khan’s foreign policy, claiming that it created huge losses for the country and he compromised Pakistan’s bilateral ties with friendly countries.

    “Today, we are trying to correct that loss […] we will have to work hard but I’m satisfied that the direction of our foreign policy is now right.”

    Going on, he recalled that Imran has passed “irresponsible statements” on the country’s nuclear assets in the past. “When he had to leave the prime minister’s seat, he publicly said that it was better that an atomic bomb was dropped on Pakistan. Find me one example in world history, where a person who is a former premier, says such things about his own country,” he said.

    It is pertinent to mention here that US President Joe Biden has said that Pakistan may be “one of the most dangerous nations in the world” as the country has “nuclear weapons without any cohesion”.

    The remark came about during the US president’s address at a democratic congressional campaign committee reception.

  • Swap deal: Taliban leader Noorzai released in exchange for US hostage

    Haji Bashir Noorzai, a senior Taliban figure, has been released after decades of detention by the United States (US) and arrived in Kabul on Monday, a Taliban spokesperson said.

    “Honorable Haji Bashir was released after two decades of imprisonment and arrived in Kabul today,” said Mohammad Naeem, a Taliban spokesperson.

    An American navy veteran detained in Afghanistan since 2020 was released by the Taliban on Monday in exchange for an ally, Noorzai, who spent 17 years in a US jail for heroin smuggling, Afghanistan’s foreign minister said.

    After long negotiations, US citizen Mark Frerichs was handed over to an American delegation which then handed over (Bashar Noorzai) to us today at Kabul airport,” Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said at a press conference.

    “We are happy that at Kabul International Airport, in the capital of Afghanistan, we witnessed the wonderful ceremony of one of our compatriots returning home,” he said.

    “My release in exchange for an American will be a source of peace between Afghanistan and Americans.”

    “We have been persistent in our efforts to free [Noorzai], and now he is with us in his own country,” Muttaqi continued. He said the two men were swapped at Kabul’s international airport.

    Noorzai is the second Afghan inmate released by the United States in recent months. In June, Assadullah Haroon was released after 15 years of detention in the United States’ notorious Guantanamo Bay prison.

  • PM Shehbaz directs Interior Ministry to provide tight security to Imran

    PM Shehbaz directs Interior Ministry to provide tight security to Imran

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Interior Ministry to provide water-tight security to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan at his home in Islamabad and during political rallies.

    A statement given by a spokesperson of the Interior Ministry said that the police and other law enforcement agencies have been directed to ensure the complete deployment of security personnel assigned to the former PM.

    94 security personnel of police and FC have been deployed for the security of Khan’s Bani Gala House. In addition, 36 personnel of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and six personnel of Gilgit-Baltistan Police have also been deployed by their governments for Khan’s security.

    35 personnel of two security companies are also deployed for the security of Bani Gala House.

    During the movement of Imran Khan outside Islamabad, four vehicles and 23 personnel of Islamabad Police while one vehicle and five personnel of FC always accompany him.

    Under the supervision of the Interior Ministry, the threat assessment company is constantly reviewing matters pertaining to the security of Imran Khan.

    ‘I will tell you about poison added to food that causes heart attack’: Khan

    Imran Khan on Sunday said that if anything happened to him, the Pakistani nation will seek justice on his behalf. 

    Addressing a jalsa in Faisalabad, Khan said that the Supreme Court (SC) must take suo motu on the heart attack of Dr Rizwan, former director of the Federal Investigating Agency (FIA), who died of a heart attack. Dr Rizwan was an investigating officer in PM Shehbaz’s money laundering case.

    “I want the SC to take suo motu on the heart attack of Dr Rizwan. I will also tell you about the poison that causes a heart attack when mixed with food.”

     Khan claimed that he had recorded a video of the characters behind the “conspiracy” against his government, and if something happens to him, it will be released. 

    “If anything happens to me, the Pakistani nation will seek justice on my behalf,” said Khan.

    Criticising Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Khan said that since he is now going to meet United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken, he will “beg him for money” so that “Imran Khan could not come back into power,” adding that the US never helps any country without seeing its own interest.

    “The US will tell Pakistan to stop talking about Palestine,” he said, adding that the US cannot dare to dictate India because it is a free country. 

    “The US has made Pakistan a slave without having to invade it,” Khan said. “The people of Pakistan will never accept this imported government.”

  • Bilawal to visit the US this month: report

    Bilawal to visit the US this month: report

     Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is expected to visit the United States (US) in the middle of this month, reports The News.

    United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken invited FM Bilawal to visit the US.

    Read More: US Secretary of State calls Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto

    Antony Blinken invited Bilawal to participate in the Ministerial meeting on Global Food Security to be held in New York on May 18, 2022. Secretary Blinken also invited Pakistan to the Second Global Covid Summit to be held virtually later this month.

    Blinken telephoned Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on May 6 to congratulate him on becoming the country’s new foreign minister.

  • ‘Mai, mera, mujhe’: How many times did PM Khan talk about himself in his hour-long speech?

    ‘Mai, mera, mujhe’: How many times did PM Khan talk about himself in his hour-long speech?

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan addressed the nation on Thursday. During his live speech, the premier talked about the war on terror, criticised the Opposition, and the threatening memo.

    In an apparent slip of the tongue during the live speech, he named the United States but quickly moved on and stated that “a foreign country” had sent a threatening memo, which was against the Pakistani nation.

    During the live speech, the premier referred to himself about 143 times. This makes it three times on average per minute, reports Geo News.

    His speech had repetitive references to the “Mai (me)”, “Mujhe (me)”, “Meri (my)”, “Mera” (my), and “Imran Khan”.

    The most used word PM Imran Khan used in his speech was “Mai” (me), which was about 88 times.

    The second most used word was “Mujhe” (me), which was used 17 times.

    The premier used his name “Imran Khan” about 14 times.

    He used “meri” (my) 13 times in the speech and “mera” (my) about 11 times.